Achilles & the Tortoise

Director, actor, writer, producer, editor and world famous wild-and-wacky game-show host: Takeshi Beat Kitano is back. And just like in Takeshis’ (2005) and Glory to the Filmmaker! (2007), both screened at The Stockholm International Film Festival, his focus is on the subject of being an artist.

Achilles & the Tortoise revolves around Machisu, whose passion for painting becomes obsessive After clawing himself through art-school, where he meets his love Sachiko, Machisu finally graduates. But life as an artist is no bed of roses, and even though his wife supports his work, not selling any paintings takes its toll.

With colors flying and emotions pouring off the screen in a Jackson Pollok-like frenzy, Kitano takes a trip down what looks like his own memory lane. Old diehard fans will be reassured of his prominent position in art house circuits, and newcomers will simply be amazed. Yet no one will really be able to put their finger on his secret, that which makes Kitano’s universe so unique.

Premiere Status
Nordic Premiere: Orig. title
Achilles to kame: Cast
Beat Takeshi, Kanako Higuchi,Yurei Yanagi, Kumiko Aso: Producer
Masayuki Mori, Takio Yoshida: Script
Takeshi Kitano: Cinematography
Katsumi Yanagishima: Spoken language
Japanese