Tokyo — The mainstream Japanese film industry came in for a surprising volume of criticism Saturday at a Tokyo event intended to celebrate the iconic comedian, actor and director Takeshi Kitano.
The occasion was an on-stage session at which Kitano was named as the first recipient of the Tokyo Intl. Film Festival’s Samurai Prize. He was greeted and quizzed by eight prize-winning student filmmakers, and then lauded by Cannes festival selector Christian Jeune and critic and Asian film expert Tony Rayns.
Looking and sounding as gruff and burdened as ever, Kitano kicked off with a cute anecdote about his early days as a struggling comedian who had to work in bars and massage parlors in order make ends meet. “I scrubbed the backs of Yakuza” gangsters, he said.
Since then, that proximity to organized crime has come in handy. Not only have gritty gangster films become Kitano’s directorial trademark,...
The occasion was an on-stage session at which Kitano was named as the first recipient of the Tokyo Intl. Film Festival’s Samurai Prize. He was greeted and quizzed by eight prize-winning student filmmakers, and then lauded by Cannes festival selector Christian Jeune and critic and Asian film expert Tony Rayns.
Looking and sounding as gruff and burdened as ever, Kitano kicked off with a cute anecdote about his early days as a struggling comedian who had to work in bars and massage parlors in order make ends meet. “I scrubbed the backs of Yakuza” gangsters, he said.
Since then, that proximity to organized crime has come in handy. Not only have gritty gangster films become Kitano’s directorial trademark,...
- 10/25/2014
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
Similar News
The Best Movies Now Playing in Theaters
- 3/28/2024
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
La Chimera review: Alice Rohwacher's haunted Italian romance lives among the ruins
- 3/27/2024
- by Matt Schimkowitz
- avclub.com
My Miyazaki Ranking: Part Four – The Eternal Mystery
- 3/26/2024
- by Cláudio Alves
- FilmExperience
Toy Story 5 Will Break A 9-Year-Old Pixar Record When It's Released
- 3/28/2024
- by Daniel Bibby
- ScreenRant.com
Top 10 Animated Movies Of All Time
- 3/26/2024
- by Hari P N
- KoiMoi
Tim Burton Allegedly Walked Across the University Hallway With Bleeding Gums after Wisdom Tooth Removal, Wanted Everyone to Think He Was a Vampire: “He was about to pass out”
- 3/22/2024
- by Krittika Mukherjee
- FandomWire
Studio Ghibli Releases The Boy and the Heron Free-to-Use Image Collection
- 3/28/2024
- by Renee Senzatimore
- Comic Book Resources
Studio Ghibli Releases Stunning Castle in the Sky Clock Featuring Uncle Pom
- 3/27/2024
- by Renee Senzatimore
- Comic Book Resources
Traveling Studio Ghibli Exhibit Reveals Spirited Away's No-Face and Yubaba
- 3/27/2024
- by Manuel Demegillo
- Comic Book Resources
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.