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Kikujiro

Play trailer Poster for Kikujiro PG-13 Released May 26, 2000 2h 2m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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61% Tomatometer 51 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Masao (Yusuke Sekiguchi) is a lonely 9-year-old boy who decides to spend his summer vacation looking for his estranged mother, whom he has never met. Kikujiro (Takeshi Kitano) is an immature man who has never had any serious responsibilities. When his wife gives him 50,000 yen to travel with Masao, the journey begins.

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Kikujiro

Critics Reviews

View All (51) Critics Reviews
Kevin Courrier Globe and Mail ... the slapstick and sentiment make for a queasy mixture. Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 22, 2002 Full Review Patrick Z. McGavin Hollywood Reporter ... a great deal of fun. May 11, 2001 Full Review David Rooney Variety ... its treacly mix of emotional manipulation and klutzy comedy will make it hard to digest for most audiences. Feb 14, 2001 Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine This is a wonderful movie. It's so unusually sad, yet so ridiculously happy. Rated: 10/10 Jul 24, 2019 Full Review Christopher Machell CineVue A quiet masterpiece that delights and affects long after its revels have ended. Rated: 5/5 Jan 17, 2017 Full Review Brian Orndorf BrianOrndorf.com Leads with Kitano's exquisite timing and ability to mine both laughs and heartache in a single instant. It's a gorgeous take on alienation and guardianship. Rated: A Dec 7, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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МемыУмирают S I like the part when he slaps random kid Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/03/24 Full Review Mario S Kikujiro is a poignant and intimate portrait of loneliness and companionship that transcends cultural and language barriers. Through the unlikely pairing of a young boy and a middle-aged drifter, the film explores themes of loss, redemption, and the enduring power of human connection. Kitano's masterful performance as the titular character is both comedic and deeply affecting, as he navigates the complexities of his own life while forming an unexpected bond with the young protagonist. The film's understated beauty and emotional depth make it a truly memorable cinematic experience. A surprising twist at the end adds an extra layer of complexity to the character and the overall story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/31/24 Full Review isla s This is a film about a young child (Masao) accompanied on a journey to meet his mother. He's accompanied by a rather angry and grumpy man (Kikujiro), who barely knows the child by all accounts. It's a bit random and certainly pretty quirky but I also thought it had quite a dreamlike feel to it, with soft lighting at times and some scenes depicting what appear to be dream type sequences, with symbolic figures from, I assume, Japanese culture doing choreographed moves and the like. It definitely has an arty feel to it at times. I found the grumpy old man quite amusing, even though most people likely wouldn't - he isn't someone you'd want to annoy, or you'd never hear the end of it, that's for sure. The two main characters seem very much like fish out of the proverbial water, given their clothes and looks. The music played helps to add to the emotional feel of some scenes - it adds a feeling of affection to the two main characters. Perhaps the film is a little overly cheesy on ocassions but I can't say it really detracted too much for me. Kikujiro may be mostly unlikeable but there's something appealing about the way the two of them muddle on somehow. I liked seeing the lighter side of the mans character, when he attempts to 'entertain'. It was surprisingly funny at times, although also somewhat sad too. Yes, I'd recommend this film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review William L If you're reading a synopsis of Kikujiro, it seems like pretty trditional territory - a group of social outcasts banding together in the face of rejection. But there is enough weirdness, genuine affection, and Takeshi Kitano's awkward running to make Kikujiro a welcome twist on a relatively familiar story, with a particular emphasis taken on by the excessive value associated with a pristine social image in Japanese culture. Normal people are the enemy (in this case, quite literally) and you can only trust your fellow offbeat outcasts. Soothe your emotional vulnerabilities with charming, strange games with people you barely known down by the side of the river. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/29/22 Full Review Matt V A beautiful, soulful, movie. One of my all time favourites. I don't see how anyone could not love it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/31/21 Full Review Audience Member One of my favourite road trip films ever Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Kikujiro

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Masao (Yusuke Sekiguchi) is a lonely 9-year-old boy who decides to spend his summer vacation looking for his estranged mother, whom he has never met. Kikujiro (Takeshi Kitano) is an immature man who has never had any serious responsibilities. When his wife gives him 50,000 yen to travel with Masao, the journey begins.
Director
Takeshi Kitano
Producer
Masayuki Mori, Takio Yoshida
Screenwriter
Takeshi Kitano
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Office Kitano, Bandai Visual Co. Ltd., Tokyo FM Broadcasting Company, Nippon Herald Films
Rating
PG-13 (Threatening Incident)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
May 26, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 30, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$198.2K
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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