Brother (I) (2000)

A Japanese gangster is exiled to Los Angeles where his brother lives with a small but respectable multi-racial gang, who he inspires to expand their influence.

Director:

Takeshi Kitano

Writer:

Takeshi Kitano

Stars:

Takeshi Kitano, Omar Epps, Claude Maki

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Takeshi Kitano	...	Aniki Yamamoto (as 'Beat' Takeshi)
Omar Epps	...	Denny
Claude Maki	...	Ken
Masaya Katô	...	Shirase
Susumu Terajima	...	Kato
Royale Watkins	...	Jay
Lombardo Boyar	...	Mo
Ren Ohsugi	...	Harada
Ryo Ishibashi	...	Ishihara
James Shigeta	...	Sugimoto
Tatyana Ali	...	Latifa
Makoto Ohtake	...	Chief of Police
Kôen Okumura	...	Hanaoka
Naomasa Musaka	...	Hisamatsu
Rino Katase	...	Night Club Madame

Storyline

A Japanese Yakuza gangster is exiled to the United States. Takeshi settles in Los Angeles where his younger, half brother lives and finds that although the turf is new, the rules are still the same as they try to take over the local drug trade.

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | gang | yakuza | police corruption | restaurant | 

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Taglines:

Are You Japanese?

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive strong violence, language and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

BAC Films [fr] (english / japanese / french) OFFICE KITANO INC. [jp] (japanese, english)

Country:

USA UK Japan

Language:

English Japanese Italian Spanish

Release Date:

27 January 2001 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Adelfos ex aimatos

Filming Locations:

Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$60,029 (USA) (20 July 2001)

Gross:

$447,750 (USA) (28 September 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Office Kitano, Bandai Visual Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kitano reputedly had problems working with Masaya Katô. Kato had his own ideas, and Kitano would get so upset that he would yell at him. In the scene where Aniki tells Shirase to put out the cigars, it is really Kitano yelling at Kato.

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Goofs

The car that explodes is a Lexus. When the gang see the flaming wreck, it's a different car.

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Quotes

Aniki Yamamoto: I understand "fucking Jap," asshole!

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Connections

References Scarface (1983)

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Soundtracks

"Casta Diva che inargenti"
from "Norma"
Music by Vincenzo Bellini
Words by Felice Romani

User Reviews

Be Prepared

Beat Takeshi is a filmmaker so distinct and so completely different from any other filmmaker that you have to be prepared before seeing one of his films to watch something differently than you normally would. Brother is his first overseas production, and to this day his only one, and perhaps its minimal success and marginal fan base is due to its seeming lack of plot, its evasive editing, or something else that Takeshi customarily draws attention to, whether purposefully or not.

Brother is not quite his best film, but Brother is a fantastic film nonetheless. If you are one of those patient, insightful filmgoers, you will realize that the focus is not on the story but on the themes of its story. Completely unlike its characters, especially Takeshi's stone cold killer, its story is something to feel your way through. These characters do not feel much. They do and think. It's the audience's job to feel. The movie is mostly made up of deadpan scenes of bloody violence, occasional dialogue, and quiet medium closeups. The music, which like in all Takeshi films is lush and emotional, directs our feelings.

Brother is great for fans of crime movies, gangsters, violence overall, Asian cinema, and even action fans, but Takeshi Kitano's style is a strangely deadpan and very personal approach. It's an acquired taste.