| Hana-bi | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Takeshi Kitano |
| Written by | Takeshi Kitano |
| Produced by | Masayuki Mori Yasushi Tsuge Takio Yoshida |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Hideo Yamamoto |
| Edited by | Takeshi Kitano Yoshinori Ota |
| Music by | Joe Hisaishi |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Nippon Herald Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Budget | $2.3 million[1] |
Hana-bi (lit. 'Fireworks'), released in theUnited States asFireworks, is a 1997 Japanesecrime drama film written, directed and edited byTakeshi Kitano, who also stars in it. The film'sscore was composed byJoe Hisaishi in his fourth collaboration with Kitano.
Hana-bi received critical acclaim and won theGolden Lion at the54th Venice International Film Festival, helping to establish Kitano as an internationally acclaimed filmmaker; the film has developed acult following.
Yoshitaka Nishi is a violent formerpolice detective who had to retire after a tragic accident during a botched arrest in which another detective, Tanaka, was killed by the suspect while two others, Nakamura and Horibe, were severely injured. Becoming unemployed, Nishi spends most of his time taking care of his sick wife Miyuki, who has terminalleukemia. To pay for his wife's care, Nishi borrows money from theyakuza but is having difficulty repaying them.
Meanwhile, Horibe, who has beenparalyzed since the incident, suffers deepdepression after his wife and daughter leave him. In a conversation with Nishi, Horibe hints at committingsuicide, while adding that he would like to paint but cannot afford to buy himself the necessary materials. After a botched suicide attempt, Horibe receives art supplies mailed to him by Nishi. He then takes up painting and createssurreal works of art, and later in apointillist style.
Nishi buys a second-hand taxicab and repaints it in police colors. He arms himself with a revolver and robs a bank dressed as a policeman. Using the money, he pays off theyakuza and gives some to Tanaka's widow. Nishi then leaves with his wife for a road trip. Nakamura learns from Tanaka's widow about the gift and advises her to keep the money. He also learns about the paints for Horibe and soon realizes who committed the robbery. Nakamura and his partner attempt to reach Nishi, eventually tracing his route as he and his wife embark on their trip.
Meanwhile, even though Nishi has paid his debt to them, theyakuza deduce Nishi committed the robbery and attempt toextort additional money from him. Theyakuza track down and confront Nishi, but he kills them all in a violent shootout. The next day, Nishi and his wife are at a beach when they are found by Nakamura and his partner. They prepare to arrest Nishi, but Nishi asks Nakamura to spare him a moment of time, watching a girl trying to fly akite. The couple comforts each other before the camera pans away towards the ocean before two gunshots are heard in the distance.
In the film, Horibe takes up painting in thepointillist style in order to compensate for hisparalysis. In reality, these paintings were painted by Kitano himself, whilst in recovery from an infamous motorcycle accident in August 1994 that left half of his face paralyzed.[2]
Kitano's daughter and former singer, Shoko Kitano, makes a cameo appearance playing a nameless girl flying a kite in the film's closing scenes.
The film's title is sometimes listed as "Hana-bi", "hana-bi" or "Hanabi" on the covers of international DVD releases and other references to the film in the West. However, the official title is actuallyHANA-BI, fully capitalized,[3][4] and is used on all Japanese licensed products, including theatrical posters, video covers andOST covers.[5]
| Hana-bi | |
|---|---|
 Polydor cover | |
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | January 1, 1998 |
| Genre | Soundtrack, modern classical, downtempo |
| Length | 42:14 |
| Label | Polydor,Milan Records |
| Alternative cover | |
 Milan Records cover | |
The soundtrack CD was first released in 1998 and 1999 by Milan Records,[6] then reissued by Polydor.
All compositions by Joe Hisaishi.
Although it was not a big success financially,[7]Hana-bi received critical acclaim and won theGolden Lion award at the54th Venice International Film Festival and numerous other accolades. Kitano himself said it was not until he won the Golden Lion that he was accepted as a serious director in his native Japan; his prior films had been looked at as just the hobby of a famous comedian.[8]
It also won theGrand Prix of theBelgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics.
Review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes reports that 96% of 24 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 8.4 out of 10.[9]Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 83 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[10] American film criticRoger Ebert rated it three stars out of four, citing its unusual approach toward serenity and brutality, calling it "aCharles BronsonDeath Wish movie so drained of story, cliché, convention and plot that nothing is left, except pure form and impulse."[11] Jaime N. Christley ofSlant Magazine gave the film a perfect four star rating.[12]David Stratton ofThe Movie Show called Hana-bi "an unclassifiable film" and "quite extraordinary," with co-hostMargaret Pomeranz stating "I was ultimately so moved by it. It did what cinema is meant to do, for me anyway, and that's take me on a journey that is mine, that ultimately ends up inside me, in my heart." Stratton concluded thatHana-bi is "hard to describe to audiences, but all I can say is: Go and see it. It's great." The duo both awarded the film five stars out of five.[13]
The film is included in the book1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.[14]
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