is a 1991 Japanese

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

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 ...

starring

Claude Maki (born October 3, 1972) is a Japanese surfing and flight champion, actor and hip hop singer, under the stage name A.K.T.I.O.N., from Akasaka, Tokyo. He is the eldest son of actor and singer Mike Maki. His mother is , a Japanese-American actres ...

Plot

A deaf garbage collector happens upon a broken and discarded surfboard. The discovery plants in him dreams of becoming a surf champion. Encouraged by his also deaf girlfriend, he persists against all odds.

Production

This movie was a break from previous Kitano fare in that it features no gangsters or police. However, Kitano did return to darker themes in his next film, '' Sonatine'', as well as many later works. In the film, Kitano develops his more delicate, romantic side along with his trademark deadpan approach. In 2002, the Japanese filmmaker directed a similar movie, ''

Dolls A doll is a model typically of a human or humanoid character, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have also been used in traditional religious rituals throughout the world. Traditional dolls made of materials such as clay and wood are found ...

'', a romantic tale about three pairs of lovers. This film marks the first collaboration between Kitano and composer

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 explor ...

, who had previously created the acclaimed soundtracks of many of

Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films, and is widel ...

anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...

films, including ''

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind may refer to * Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (manga), ''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'' (manga), a manga series by Hayao Miyazaki * Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film), ''Nausicaä of the Valle ...

''. Hisaishi would go on to compose the

soundtrack A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...

s for all of Kitano's films until ''Dolls'', after which their collaboration ended. Occasional

Office 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 ...

actor, Claude Maki, who plays the mute main character, went on to appear in Kitano's film ''

Brother A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...

'' as Ken, a Japanese-American punk set to become leader of 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 term ...

clan. In ''Brother'', Claude speaks mostly in

American-English American English, sometimes called United States English or U.S. English, is the set of varieties of the English language native to the United States. English is the most widely spoken language in the United States and in most circumstances i ...

with some occasional Japanese.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack CD was originally released on November 25, 1992, by Toshiba EMI; then, re-released many times by

Milan Records Milan Records is a record label located in Los Angeles, California specializing in film scores and soundtrack albums. In addition, Milan boasts an extensive electronic catalog which features down-tempo, chillout, and eclectic electronic releases ...

and

Wonderland Records Wonderland may refer to: Places Municipalities * Wonderland, California, a ghost town in Plumas County * Wonderland, Ohio, a ghost town in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Roads, streets, and trails * Wonderland Avenue, a roadway in Laurel Canyon, Los A ...

. # "Silent Love (Main Theme)" − 6:52 # "Cliffside Waltz I" − 3:58 # "Island Song" − 3:39 # "Silent Love (In Search of Something)" − 1:10 # "Bus Stop" − 5:11 # "While at Work" − 1:22 # "Cliffside Waltz II" − 3:44 # "Solitude" − 1:12 # "Melody of Love" − 1:41 # "Silent Love (Forever)" − 3:30 # "Alone" − 1:04 # "Next Is My Turn" − 0:45 # "Wave Cruising" − 4:02 # "Cliffside Waltz III" − 3:40

External links

* * 1991 films Japanese romance films 1990s Japanese-language films 1990s romance films Surfing films Films directed by Takeshi Kitano Films set in Yokosuka Films scored by Joe Hisaishi Films about deaf people 1990s Japanese films {{1990s-romance-film-stub

Plot

Production

Soundtrack

See also

External links