Takeshi Kitano directs Beat Takeshi, Aya Kokumai and Tetsu Watanabe in this Japanese gangster flick where a Yakuza is sent to a seaside town on a suicide mission.

Slow cinema. It is slight and feels even more cult now than it did back in the mid 1990s. I have a lot of affection for this deadpan delight. It blends art, genre and comedy affectingly at its own purposeful pace. The violence is impactful, the downtime very playful and heartfelt. The romance is the highlight. There is a very sexy scene involving a rainy downpour. This is about as quirky and personal as a hyper violent film can get while still satisfying the fans of the genre.

8

Perfect Double Bill: Kikujiro (1998)