Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano is all set to premiere his latest film “Kubi” or “neck” at the Cannes Film Festival next month. The samurai story depicts the dirty side of human existence and shows how evil people don’t care a hoot about slaughtering regular people.
Takeshi Kitano’s New Samurai Film ‘Kubi’ is a Story without Heroes
Unlike most samurai films that portray famous people and their heroic feats, “Kubi” portrays human greed, betrayal, and cruelty. It tells a story of a 16th-century feud centered around Oda Nobunaga, a powerful warlord who is not well-known outside Japan. The film’s story features Shakespearean intrigues, familiar enough for a global audience.
‘Kubi’ features a spectacular star cast, which includes Hidetoshi Nishijima and Ryo Kase. The film boasts of fabulous sets, and some of the most dramatic scenes were taken in one cut or minimal cuts.
Depicting the Horror of Killing with the Absurd
Kitano’s latest work juxtaposes the horror of killing with the absurd, bringing to light the darkest side of human existence. The film’s director, Takeshi Natsuno, said that the spectacular battle scenes evoke Akira Kurosawa classics like ‘Seven Samurai’ and ‘Kagemusha’.
Kitano acted in the new film and wrote the screenplay based on his book, published in 2019. Some of the most dramatic scenes in ‘Kubi’ involve fabulous sets. Kitano said that was intentional and recalled that director Nagisa Oshima taught him to stay away from closeups in major scenes.
Takeshi Kitano, a Japanese Auteur
Takeshi Kitano, also known as Beat Takeshi, began his career as a stand-up comedian in Japan’s vaudeville. Later he became a superstar on TV shows and films. He was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for his 1997 film ‘Hana-Bi’. He has been known for his unique take on the samurai genre, and his latest film, ‘Kubi’, is no exception.
Kubi Headed to Cannes
Takeshi Kitano’s ‘Kubi’ is set to take the Cannes Film Festival by storm. It is a samurai story that breaks away from the usual portrayal of heroic feats and brings to light the darkest side of human existence. The film boasts of a spectacular cast and sets and is sure to leave an incredible impression on the audience.
