The Director's Chair - Takeshi Kitano

Japanese born Kitano Takeshi is one of the most unique directors in modern cinema. By constantly challenging film composition fabrics, akin to what Thelonious Monk does to Jazz, his mise-en-scene transforms to levels of motivic improvisation. It is here where he deconstructs a scene or storyline, then recomposes, either by minimizing elliptic compositions or, alternately, allowing uninhibited expression. Kitano's ouvre can be divided into three distinct periods. The first was a pendulum between self-destruction and experimentation, his second period dealt with exoneration and mortality, and his current third period dwells upon failed opportunities. Deeply personal, each of his films is as important in the understanding of Kitano as the next; Masterpiece or failure alike. Central to Kitano is the duality of man, himself having two personalities, the serious artist and the rebelling comedian. His films are on one side embracing the Japanese concept of “mono-no-aware” or having the potential to explode in sudden violence or comedic episodes.