Sonatine (1993)

Several yakuza from Tokyo are sent to Okinawa to help end a gang war. The war escalates and the Tokyo drifters decide to lay low at the beach.

Director:

Takeshi Kitano

Writer:

Takeshi Kitano

Stars:

Takeshi Kitano, Aya Kokumai, Tetsu Watanabe

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Takeshi Kitano	...	Aniki Murakawa
Aya Kokumai	...	Miyuki
Tetsu Watanabe	...	Uechi
Masanobu Katsumura	...	Ryoji
Susumu Terajima	...	Ken
Ren Ohsugi	...	Katagiri
Tonbo Zushi	...	Kitajima
Ken'ichi Yajima	...	Takahashi
Eiji Minakata	...	The Hit Man
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Britton	...	Gangster with shades (as Christopher Britton)
Bob Gunter	...	Ganster 2
Rome Kanda	...	Gangster
Hôka Kinoshita	...	A member of kitajima-gumi
Kôta Mizumori
Yuuki Natsusaka	...	Murakawa-gumi kumiin

Storyline

A world-weary yakuza in Tokyo is assigned to take his clan to Okinawa to help settle a dispute between two factions. He's suspicious of the assignment, but he goes, and within a couple days, his role remains unclear and several of men are dead. He retreats to a house on a remote beach to wait. The first night there , he rescues a young woman from an assault, and they develop a playful relationship. Over time, it becomes clear he's been set up, sent to Okinawa so that others can take over his lucrative territory. As his clan dwindles, he plans a revenge. But, what if he's successful? What is there to life anyway?

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Plot Keywords:

yakuza | beach | assault | gang war | murder | 

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Taglines:

His mob boss double-crossed him. Now it's payback time!

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for bloody shootings, language and some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

10 April 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sonachine

Filming Locations:

Okinawa, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bandai Visual Company, Shouchiku Co., Shôchiku Eiga

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Maeda: Fancy something to drink?
Bald Yakuza: No. My stomach still hurts from when you stabbed me.

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the closing credits, various shots of the beach that were taken a year or so later, are included.

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Connections

Spoofed in Bandits (2001)

User Reviews

not an action movie

I think the people who criticize this film do so because they've been trained to watch movies the way Hollywood makes them. This is as far from Hollywood as a gangster film can get. The quiet (or as some might say, boring) moments are there because the characters exist in a realistic world where sometimes they can do nothing but sit and think. Sonatine isn't perfect, but it can certainly be appreciated if the viewer will approach it with an open mind. Also, the sumo scene is very fun and beautiful.