7.6/10
15,198
79 user 63 critic

Sonatine (1993)

R | | Action, Comedy, Crime | 10 April 1998 (USA)
Sonatine Poster
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.

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4 wins. See more awards »

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Cast

Credited cast:
... Aniki Murakawa
Aya Kokumai ... Miyuki
... Uechi
Masanobu Katsumura ... Ryoji
Susumu Terajima ... Ken
... Katagiri (as Ren Ôsugi)
Tonbo Zushi ... Kitajima
Ken'ichi Yajima ... Takahashi
Eiji Minakata ... The Hit Man
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
... Gangster with shades (as Christopher Britton)
... Gangster
... Gangster
Hôka Kinoshita ... A member of kitajima-gumi
Koji Koike ... Okinawa Boss
Kôta Mizumori
See full cast »
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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? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

yakuza | shooting lesson | beach | night | gang war | See All (78) »

Taglines:

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

Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for bloody shootings, language and some sexuality | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Miramax

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

10 April 1998 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Sonachine  »

Filming Locations:

Company Credits

Production Co:

, ,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Quotes

Aniki Murakawa: Indecent exposure is fun.
See more »

Crazy Credits

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

Connections

Referenced in Helpless (1996) See more »

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User Reviews

 
not an action movie
8 June 1999 | by – See all my reviews

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.
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