A Scene at the Sea
Posted by martinteller on February 20, 2009
Maybe I’m just getting crankier, but I think this is one of Kitano’s weakest films. Yes, it has a tranquil poetry to it, mixed with very light comedy that makes it almost like a Tati film. And yes, I cared for the main characters (is it me, or does Kuroudo Maki look like an Asian Rock Hudson?). And yes, the ambiguously tragic ending is moving. But man, a lot of it is really boring. I understand that it’s about Shigeru’s self-discovery through surfing, but there is WAY too much surfing in this movie, and way too much sitting on the beach. Not quite deep enough for a character study, not quite engaging enough for a meditative piece. Hisaishi’s tinkly score gets annoying, too. Kitano’s following film, Sonatine, is far better. Rating: 6
