Kids Return (1996)
"Kizzu ritân" (original title)

Dropping out of high school, two friends at first find success, one as a up-and-coming boxer and one as a low level gangster. Yet, their life decisions still find a way of catching up on them.

Director:

Takeshi Kitano

Writer:

Takeshi Kitano

Stars:

Ken Kaneko, Masanobu Andô, Leo Morimoto

13 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ken Kaneko	...	Masaru
Masanobu Andô	...	Shinji
Leo Morimoto	...	Teacher
Hatsuo Yamaya	...	Boxing Club Manager
Michisuke Kashiwaya	...	Hiroshi
Mitsuko Oka	...	Coffee-shop Owner, Sachiko's Mother
Yûko Daike	...	Sachiko
Ryo Ishibashi	...	Local Yakuza Chief
Susumu Terajima	...	No 2 In Local Gang
Moro Morooka	...	Hayashi
Peking Genji
Atsuki Ueda	...	Reiko
Kôtarô Yoshida
Koichi Shigehisa	...	Trainer
Kyôsuke Yabe

Storyline

Two buddies visit the schoolyard of the high school they used to attend, and remember their young and dumb days. They used to be the bullies in the school, until they find their own ways of life; one as a boxer, and the other as a member of the yakuza.

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Plot Keywords:

school | yakuza | street gang | boxing | teen rebel | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

27 July 1996 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Kids Return

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bandai Visual Company, Office Kitano, Ota Publishing

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Takeshi Kitano's first film following his near-fatal scooter accident.

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Quotes

Shinji: Masaru, do you think we're already finished?
Masaru: Hell no. We haven't even started.

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Connections

Featured in To Each His Own Cinema (2007)

User Reviews

Another GREAT One From "Beat" Takeshi!!!

Along with Fireworks, one of Takeshi Kitano's finest movies. This movie is a story of two high school? slackers who appear to be looking for a purpose in life. One becomes a good boxer and the other one becomes a yakuza member. After going thru their experience, they become more confident and content with their life even though it couldn't be said that they were exactly successful. Like real life, perhaps the experience is the thing. Good acting all around. It's always good to see Susumu Terajima in Takeshi's movies as he's a very good actor. Also very good score by Joe Hisaishi. The movie also appears to criticize the fact that many Japanese people treat everything- life, work, etc. so seriously that they don't take the time to enjoy life. Instead, they "pressure" themselves to do good, even though their heart may not be in it. It's not unlike many recent Japanese films like Shall We Dance or Bouncing KOgals, both also good movies. Overall, a 9 out of 10.