Sonatine

Murakawa is an extraordinarily ruthless Tokyo gangster. A ''yakuza'', extremely violent and aggressive, that is. But he is beginning to grow weary of his indifferent life. He is sent as reinforcement to Okinawa because of a feud between them and a rivalling gang. When all hell breaks loose Murakawa and his underlings sit in a house by the sea awaiting instructions from Tokyo. Slowly it dawns on them that they are pawns in a bigger game, and Murakawa leaves on his own in order to even out the odds.

COMMENTARY
The images are in deep, saturated colors. The scenes are lengthy, frequently tableaulike. A peculiar feeling of intimacy between the mob leader and Murakawa, played by the director Takeshi Kitano, and his men. Then suddenly - an ERUPTION. An orgy of violence which lasts for a couple of minutes, followed by tranquility, silence.
I have mixed feelings. It is easier to defend the violence when you feel sympathy for the crooks. At the same time the violence seems more forceful when it breaks the silence in such a brutal way. Absurdly enough it feels as if one thing is a prerequisite of the other. In a state of absolute calmness, violence is always there as the only logical solution, the only alternative. If there weren't any eruptions, tranquility wouldn't exist.
Takeshi Kitano's massive presence is one condition for creating this atmosphere. When it comes to looks and charisma you could call him a Japanese Harvey Keitel (Bad Lieutenant). The further into the story we get, the tighter the bonds between the men in Murakawa's gang become. For long periods of time I forget who these people really are. The fact that they are criminals seems unimportant. In the same way the viewer becomes absorbed by Murakawa's remarkable energy.
Sonatine is like no other gangster movie I have seen. In Japan everything is calm since Murakawa cleared up among his enemies. ':'
Petter Mattsson

Medverkande
Takeshi Kitano, Aya Kokumai: Producent
Kazuyoshi Okuyama: Manus
Takeshi Kitano: Foto
Katsumi Yanagishima: Musik
Joe Hisaishi: Talat språk
Japanese