Hana-Bi DVD > Reviews > True Masterpiece

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
Soundtrack	Good

Advantages:	Possibly best ever Kitano movie
Disadvantages:	None whatsoever

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Films previous to this made by Kitano included Violent Cop, Sonatine, and Boiling Point, and if you've seen those 3, you'll notice the difference here. This film was made after his motorcycle accident which left him with a facial twitch which is evident, but one can see the change in style brought about as a result of it.
Takeshi's character, Nishi, is a cop whose wife is terminally ill, and whose daughter died earlier. As he tries to deal with his own problems and do his job as a cop, his partner gets shot and as a result is crippled. Nishi blames himself for this, as he was visiting his wife in hospital at the time that his partner got shot.
The full story unfolds in short flashback sequences, and Nishi feels snowballing guilt. To add to his problems, he owes the Yakuza a lot in debt, and has to go about repaying it.
The story is mainly about how Nishi decides to spend time with his wife who hasn't got long left to live, as he contemplates the inevitable conclusion.
The moments between Nishi and his wife are truly absorbing, and there are many scenes of tranquility throughout the film, and the few moments of violence in the film are short but extremely sharp, showing the pent-up emotions being released all at once.
Overall, a true masterpiece, one that I recommend to all.