The author of this article is a contributor @ Nanase Maru
I am regaining my passion for cinema
To be a fan of Takeshi Kitano, you have to remember two things -
First, in Japan, his status as a funny artist is more important than his identity as a director;
Second, he loves tap dancing as much as the mantra "Malu Noro" (Japanese, meaning "bastard").
Even if you don't know these two things, it doesn't matter, open Netflix's new film "Asakusa Boy", this tragicomedy has the "old leper" in the turbulent life and the initial code of the movie inscribed in the annals of history.
"Asakusa Kid" is based on the autobiography and song of the same name by Takeshi Kitano, telling his youth experience in Asakusa Roku-ku, and the song sings the voices of generations of young people who dream of comedy.
Takeshi Kitano (Yumi Yanagi) in 1972 is just a hairy boy who dropped out of college and was confused in the upheaval of the times. He wants to be a funny entertainer, but when he first arrived in Asakusa, the holy land of entertainers, he can only work as an elevator worker in the theater "Seat of France".
Xiao Wu is infected by the wonderful performance of the French seat Nagato Chisaburo Fukami (Hiroshi Ozumi) and hopes to worship him as a teacher. Fukami was moved by his sincerity and taught tap dancing for a little while every day.
Xiao Wu practiced non-stop every day in the elevator and sweeping the floor. The dance steps are staggered to form a master-apprentice friendship.
At the same time, Xiao Wu also becomes friends with Chiharu, a dancer in the theater, because of her dreams.
However, at this time, Asakusa was no longer the bustling scene of the past, and although the constellation of France had once bred a national treasure such as Atsumi Kiyoshi, it was now snubbed.
The trajectory of the life of the master and apprentice has since deviated...
The master is a "self-contained old stubborn", and the apprentice is a "little bastard who is famous for his heart", and Fukami and Xiaowu don't look like a passerby, but there is an invisible entanglement that binds the two people together.
Nearly half of the scene in the film is the subject matter in Xiao Wan's view.
Fukami usually wrapped his left hand in a bandage, and Kobu asked his colleague in the French seat, who told him with a serious face that the master had lost all his fingers in the factory's production accident.
Xiao Wu, who knew this inside story, actually "thundered" in front of his master: "I heard that your fingers are too hungry to bear to eat themselves, is it true?" ”
Death-like silence.
What followed was Master's stormy and hilarious spit.
Although the film as a whole still has shortcomings, this game against the audience's expectations is quite commendable. Offense is the duty of a comedian, and even if it is the master's broken hand, it should be used to pretend to be stupid without any taboos.
This is not only a laying out of Xiao Wu's gradually mature comedy concept in the film, but also a finishing touch to the acquaintance of Fukami and Xiao Wu's master and apprentice. Pretending to be silly and complaining, as if the two basic notes of a funny artist, constitute a wonderful harmony between this pair of masters and apprentices.
It is precisely because of this tacit understanding that the tear-jerking "Lingqian Duan" at the end of the film has a moving appeal, and if you know a little more about the talent of deep insight in reality and his lifelong obscurity, this mixed chemical reaction of tragedy and joy will be more intense.
"Since you are a funny artist, you must remember to pretend to be stupid at any time!"
"Don't be laughed at, be laughable!"
Deeply seeing these two teachings, it is like poking at the soul of the artist who needs to be awakened in Xiao Wu's heart, and has become the creed of the later funny artist "Beat Takeshi", whose comic style is spicy, has no taboos, and leads to a moment.
As for Chisaburo Fukami, although Ōizumi Hiroshi in the film has already interpreted it well, he is still not as vivid as the master craftsman in Kitano Takeshi's mouth.
Chisaburo Fukami
When preparing for the film, the director once asked Takeshi Kitano: What kind of person is Fukami Master?
Kitano Takeshi's words contain the hearts of the two men: "When you are happy, you make trouble, and when you are sad, you joke - that person will all come in reverse, and he will feel very shy when he is seen through his heart." ”
Every time I pretend to be stupid and complain, it is probably the closest moment between the two masters and apprentices who are clumsy in revealing their true feelings.
The guidance of the master is not only in comedy, but also throughout Kitano Takeshi's artistic career.
"Don't please the audience, it's up to you to tell the audience what's good."
This sentence made the world-renowned director Takeshi Kitano used for life, "Kitano Blue", crisp and clean violent scenes, dialogue is scarce and other strong personal style, so that Kitano Takeshi, who later turned to directing, became one of the most important directors in Japan's Heisei era.
Oh, and of course don't forget the tap dance that recurs in his movies, which is a "rebel" who is a deep remembrance of his enlightened mentor.
Note: Some of the pictures in this article come from Douban and the Internet, if there is infringement, please take the initiative to contact us.