is a 1996 Japanese film written, edited and directed by
Takeshi Kitano
is a Japanese comedian, television presenter, actor, filmmaker, and author. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. With th ...
. The film was made directly after Kitano recovered from a motorcycle wreck that left one side of his body
paralyzed
Paralysis (also known as plegia) is a loss of motor function in one or more muscles. Paralysis can also be accompanied by a loss of feeling (sensory loss) in the affected area if there is sensory damage. In the United States, roughly 1 in 5 ...
. After undergoing extensive surgery and physical therapy, he quickly went about making ''Kids Return'' amidst speculation that he might never be able to work again. The movie is about two high school dropouts, Masaru (
Ken Kaneko) and Shinji (
Masanobu Andō
is a Japanese actor.
Ando has appeared in films such as Takeshi Kitano's '' Kids Return'' (1996), Kinji Fukasaku's '' Battle Royale'' (2000), Takashi Miike's '' Sukiyaki Western Django'' (2007), and Chen Kaige's ''Forever Enthralled'' (2008). He ...
), who try to find a direction and meaning in their lives—one by becoming a
yakuza
, also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the ter ...
lieutenant, the other by becoming a
boxer.
The music was composed by
Joe Hisaishi
, known professionally as , is a Japanese composer, musical director, conductor and pianist, known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981. He is also known for his piano scores.
Hisaishi's music has been known to explore ...
, and the cinematographer was
Katsumi Yanagishima
, also credited as Katsumi Yanagijima, is a Japanese cinematographer.
Career
Yanagishima has worked with Takeshi Kitano in many of his films, including ''A Scene at the Sea'', '' Sonatine'', ''Zatoichi'', '' Kids Return'', ''Kikujiro'' and ''Dol ...
.
Plot
Shinji and Masaru are high school delinquents, terrifying their classmates, stealing money, and even setting their teacher's car on fire. After some of their victims hire a boxer to beat up Masaru, he decides to get revenge, and takes his shy friend Shinji along with him to a boxing gym. To their trainers' surprise, Shinji is naturally-talented at boxing and easily defeats Masaru in a sparring session. Masaru encourages his friend to keep going at it, and quits boxing, opting instead to join the
yakuza
, also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the ter ...
. As Shinji focuses on becoming a successful boxer, Masaru aims to become a gang leader, and their paths diverge.
While the two of them climb to the top in their respective areas, Shinji adopts an unhealthy lifestyle that results in the end of his boxing career. Likewise, Masaru's arrogance and disrespect for his boss gets him kicked out of the yakuza. In the end, they are both left with nothing, and meet again. As they ride their bike together in the schoolyard, Shinji wonders if this is the end of their lives, but Masaru assures him that "it's only the beginning".
Cast and roles
*
Ken Kaneko as Masaru
*
Masanobu Andō
is a Japanese actor.
Ando has appeared in films such as Takeshi Kitano's '' Kids Return'' (1996), Kinji Fukasaku's '' Battle Royale'' (2000), Takashi Miike's '' Sukiyaki Western Django'' (2007), and Chen Kaige's ''Forever Enthralled'' (2008). He ...
as Shinji
*
Leo Morimoto as Teacher
*
Hatsuo Yamatani
Hatsuo (written: or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include:
*, Japanese World War II flying ace
*, Japanese karateka
{{given name
Japanese masculine given names ...
as boxing club manager (credited as
Hatsuo Yamaya
Hatsuo (written: or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include:
*, Japanese World War II flying ace
*, Japanese karateka
{{given name
Japanese masculine given names ...
)
*
Michisuke Kashiwaya as Hiroshi
*
Mitsuko Oka as coffee-shop owner, Sachiko's mother
*
Yūko Daike as Sachiko
*
Ryo Ishibashi
is a Japanese actor and lead singer of the Japanese rock band ARB. He is known around the world for his roles in the Japanese horror films '' Suicide Club'' and ''Audition.'' He is also recognized in America for his role as Nakagawa in ''The Gr ...
as local Yakuza chief
*
Susumu Terajima as No. 2 in local gang
*
Moro Morooka as Hayashi
*
Peking Genji
*
Atsuki Ueda as Reiko
*
Kotaro Yoshida
*
Koichi Shigehisa as Trainer
*
Kyōsuke Yabe
*
Yoshitaka Ōtsuka as delinquent
*
Masami Shimojō as Yakuza godfather
*
Kazuki Oh
*
Shintarō Hasegawa
*
Kanji Tsuda
is a Japanese actor.
Career
Tsuda appeared in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's '' Tokyo Sonata''. He co-starred in Sion Sono's ''Guilty of Romance'' with Megumi Kagurazaka.
Filmography
Film
* '' Sonatine'' (1993)
* ''119'' (1994)
* '' Kids Return'' (1996) ...
*
Yojin Hino as taxi office worker (credited as Yōjin Hino)
*
Ren Osugi as taxi passenger
*
Takashi Hagino
Soundtrack
''All compositions by
Joe Hisaishi
, known professionally as , is a Japanese composer, musical director, conductor and pianist, known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981. He is also known for his piano scores.
Hisaishi's music has been known to explore ...
.''
#"Meet Again" − 5:02
#"Graduation" − 1:07
#"Angel Doll" − 2:21
#"Alone" − 1:15
#"As a Rival" − 1:29
#"Promise... for Us" − 5:08
#"Next Round" − 1:28
#"Destiny" − 3:31
#"I Don't Care" − 2:18
#"High Spirits" − 2:03
#"Defeat" − 2:29
#"Break Down" − 3:46
#"No Way Out" − 2:51
#"The Day After" − 0:44
#"Kids Return" − 4:40
Reception
Critical reception
At the time of its release, ''Kids Return'' was Takeshi Kitano's most successful film yet in his native
Japan, which until then had been notedly less enthusiastic about his films than international viewers.
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...
gives this film a 100% approval rating based on reviews from five critics, with an average score of 7.8 out of 10. David Wood, writing for the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
, described it as "a tender, funny and melancholy affair which will come as a delight to ardent admirers after the recent ''
, ''Kids Return'' was nominated for three awards and won two of them.