Hana-bi
| Hana-bi | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Takeshi Kitano |
| Produced by |
Masayuki Mori Yasushi Tsuge Takio Yoshida |
| Written by | Takeshi Kitano |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Joe Hisaishi |
| Cinematography | Hideo Yamamoto |
| Edited by | Takeshi Kitano Yoshinori Oota |
| Distributed by |
Nippon Herald Films Office Kitano |
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Release date
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September 3, 1997 (Venice Film Festival) January 24, 1998 (Japan) |
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Running time
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103 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Budget | $2.3 million |
| Hana-bi | ||
|---|---|---|
Polydor cover
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| Soundtrack album by Joe Hisaishi | ||
| Released | January 1, 1998 | |
| Genre | Soundtrack | |
| Length | 42:14 | |
| Label | Polydor, Milan Records | |
| Alternative cover | ||
Milan Records cover
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Hana-bi (はなび HANA-BI?), released in the United States as Fireworks, is a 1997 Japanese film written, directed and edited by Takeshi Kitano, who also stars in it. The film's score was composed by Joe Hisaishi in his fourth collaboration with Kitano. Hana-bi (花火 Hanabi?) is the Japanese word for "fireworks."
The unexpected international success of Hana-bi, coupled with Sonatine's critical acclaim, established Kitano as one of the foremost Japanese filmmakers of his time.
Kitano plays Yoshitaka Nishi, a violent police detective who had to retire from the police after a tragic accident during a detention: detective Tanaka is killed by the suspect, while two other detectives, Nakamura and Horiba, were severely injured. Becoming unemployed, Nishi spends most of his time taking care of his sick wife Miyuki (Kayoko Kishimoto), who has leukemia. The film moves at a deliberate pace and devotes much time to exploring their relationship. Miyuki also suffers after the death of their child. To pay for his wife's needs, Nishi borrows money from the yakuza but is having difficulty repaying them.
Meanwhile, Horiba, whom the accident left in a wheelchair, experiences a deep depression. His marriage quickly breaks up, so now he lives alone. In a conversation with Nishi, Horiba hints he considered committing suicide, while adding that he would like to paint but cannot afford to buy himself necessary materials.
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Wikipedia