tieman64
Takeshi Kitano took a break from gangster and Yakuza pictures to direct "A Scene By The Sea", a low key flick about a deaf garbage collector who is determined to learn how to surf.It's a simple story, Kitano's camera often stagnant, watching from afar as our hero stares longingly out at the ocean, builds a surfboard and slowly evolves from an inept surfer to a competent sportsman.Because both our hero and his girlfriend are deaf, Kitano opts for a unique aesthetic which tries to convey their disabilities through cinematic means. For example, the film's dialogue is almost completely muted, there are long stretches of silence, no sign language and our heroes are oblivious to anything which occurs outside their field of vision.This is thus a purely visual film, Takeshi forcing us to view the world the way a deaf person would. Throw in a soundtrack by the always brilliant Joe Hisaishi – who famously collaborates with master animator Hayao Miyazaki – and you have a nice little flick which takes the sparseness of a Bresson film and merges it with colourful, picture-book visuals.8/10 – Though cute and at times very atmospheric, this film is a bit too simple, a bit too trite, to warrant repeat viewings.Worth one viewing.
mrh912
Having recently seen and loved Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman, I became interested in seeing his other work. So I started with this movie, which had been praised to the sky.Slow? Measured pacing? Grass grows faster. And why doesn't a contemporary Japanese deaf couple know sign language? This film's emotion is so subtle that white bread seems interesting.I am a lover of foreign and independent films. But the high praise that this one has received has me stumped. It seems to me that the director has tried too hard to create something unusual. Incredible from the get-go.Oh, well, I'll keep trying. I shall now watch Kids Return.
liangdong
The way Kitano combines his sequences is both original and powerful and he shoots them without a single complex show-off of camera movements. He is the man who knows montage instinctively and he got his cut-point clean and strong, always keeping perfect emotional harmony with the music. In the first minute of this film you will be able to see his method, quite unexpected and exciting, which stirs your attention immediately.The story is good, too, fully revealing the gentleness of unspoken determination and the power of silent movement. It would be hard to imagine a world as beautiful as this for a hearing-impaired couple and I am sure I will be unable to make a complete story of them by myself including so other minor interesting material. You must really be devoted to the world of silence with boundless love and intent to be able to do it.The ending sequence is worth mentioning, due to its apparent spontaneity, when the death of our hero is welcomed by such a passionate depiction of music and exulting sea. Try to reflect on this and see if you can understand it.
fredsandiego
Definitely not your average Hollywood flick, this movie has more to do with an ambiance, with your own perception... A must see for all Kitano-wanna-be-fans, let the wave catch you...
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