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Takeshi Kitano, Kayoko Kishimoto, Ren Osugi, Susumu Terajima, Tetsu Watanabe ... see more see more... , Hakuryu , Yasuei Yakushiji , Taro Itsumi , Kenichi Yajima , Makoto Ashikawa , Yuko Daike

Actor and auteur Takeshi Kitano (who in Japan also uses the stage name "Beat" Takeshi, primarily for his work as a television comedian) wrote, directed, edited, and starred in this unusual crime drama... read more read more.... Nishi (Takeshi Kitano) is a policeman whose emotions seem to run only on two extreme paths -- either quiet contentment or brutal rage. Nishi's life is falling apart around him; his daughter was murdered, his wife, Miyuki (Kayoko Kishimoto), is dying of leukemia, his partner, Horibe (Ren Osugi), was ambushed by thugs after Nishi left him to visit his wife in the hospital and will now spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, and another cop was killed coming to Horibe's rescue. Nishi desperately wants to quit his job so he can spend more time with his dying wife, so he borrows a large sum of money from the yakuza (the Japanese mafia) and takes up a career as a painter while he cares for Miyuki. Not wanting to stay in debt to the gangsters, Nishi engineers a daring bank robbery (using his police uniform and an old auto disguised to look like a squad car) and uses the loot to pay off the yakuza and take his wife on a final vacation. However, the loan sharks are not eager to have Nishi off the hook, and they begin complaining that he still owes them interest on their loan. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

91% liked it

10,496 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

19 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Takeshi Kitano

Release Date: September 3, 1997

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DVD Release Date: July 11, 2000

Stats: 693 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (693)


  • fb573414556
    July 14, 2011
    fb573414556
    Touching, absurd and beautiful. Hana-bi is a lot like 'Sonatine' another one of Kitano's films as it portrays a nihilistic main character, a man of few words, dealing with his wife dying and his co-worker wanting to commit suicide. Hana-bi moves at a slow pace and is accompanied ... read moreby a perfect soundtrack and great violence. Truly outstanding and Kitano's best.
  • December 28, 2009
    This movie is from a list of movies played at the 1997 Toronto International Movie Festival.Its written by Takeshi Kitano and is 103 Minutes long. Its about a police officer in Asia, whose wife is dying of Leukemia and one of his fellow partners gets shot on the job, along with ... read moreother police officers. What we have is a shell of a man just trying to get through the pain and depression. He only wants what?s best for is wife, and robs a bank to take his wife on her last trip. He owes loan sharks, the police are looking for him. So we have a story that is shown from many angles. This is also listed with New Yorker Films, so you know its got to be good. If your a Rocky Fan, or a Segal Film, then you will not grasp the inner thoughts of this movie, lacks action, but it is a story that is complete with itself, 4 Stars.
  • November 14, 2009
    An ex cop tries to spend time with his dying wife during her final days, but a Yakuza loan shark refuses to leave him in peace. A typically understated marriage of violence and poetry from Beat Takeshi, Hana Bi examines loss and mortality in a deeply personal way. It shares many ... read moreof the themes of Sonatine, but is not as brutally nihilistic; there is much warmth in the often wordless scenes with his wife which have far more humanity than the contrived schmaltz we are used to from most mainstream film making. Takeshi's laconic persona is taken to the extreme in this film as he silently deals with the loss of his child, his wife's illness and his guilt over his suicidal ex-partner's crippling injury, although he still manages to find humour with the use of some oddball supporting characters. In other words another typically brilliant and artful Beat Takeshi film.
  • September 4, 2009
    Hana-bi is Kitano's most personal work to date. It seems like all his feelings, that he'd bottled up for so long, were suddenly triggered and then released after his near death motorcycle accident. In his autobiography it says that after he committed suicide (Beat, his alter-ego)... read more he felt real but at the same time uncertain of his future, mainly due to a lack of confidence. It must be hard, being the most famous man in Japan, producing No 1 TV shows, Comedy, best selling books etc to huge success, but when he directs films (his real passion) he is disregarded and misunderstood. His films have had a much larger impact in the western world, why? I'm not sure but this certainly isn't a typical Asian film, its not a typical western film, its truly original and a real raw insight into the man and his emotions. Hard hitting but truly beautiful, Hana-bi is something special, a metamorphosis of a genius.
  • December 10, 2008
    The damaging effects of violence, the strong bonds between family and friends, and the healing power of art are explored in a visually effective way. It's remarkable how much can be communicated considering Fireworks' almost complete lack of dialogue. Takeshi "Beat" Kitano, who p... read morelays the main character Nishii may have only a line or two in the entire film, something American gangster films would not or could not even attempt.
    Photobucket
    Footnote: All of the art in the film was done by Kitano while recovering from a motorcycle accident. His face shows damage and it adds so much more to his broken character.
  • September 30, 2008
    A film like Hana Bi perfectly embodies the phrase "less is more". Kitano doesn't waste any time in pointless exposition, dialogues and what not. He goes straight to the core of things, going from a violent scene to a tender moment to a funny part in a way that many so called dire... read morectors could only dream about pulling out.

    One of the most important films of past years, instant classic and mandatory view for any so-called "cinema fan".
  • January 31, 2008
    My first introduction to Kitano. Very interesting stylistically, sort of the anti-John Woo. Like if Sam Fuller had a man-baby with Gus Van Sant
  • September 30, 2010
    Jaded and troubled cop gives his soon-to-be-dead wife a final road trip.
    I like Takeshi Kitano, and I particularly like Fireworks. He manages to combine violence, poignancy and comedy without throwing the pace of the film. and he leaves space and silence which others would fill... read more with endless dialog or blow-em-ups. but which show you far more about the characters than a ten-page exposition or explosion ever could. And to add icing to the cake, a soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi..
    Beautiful.

  • August 27, 2011
    A profoundly moving, poetic movie, made of extremes that on most occasions works, but on others the contrasts are a bit too much to handle. Nevertheless no one should miss this and I dare you not to feel "something" towards Nishi's character.
  • February 17, 2007
    The most beautiful crime story ever made. Along with the wonderful visuals you get a great Kitano performance and an intense story. This is the film where I think Takeshi Kitano really became the director he is today.

Critic Reviews


Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Takeshi Kitano, who made it, must be very serene or very angry; only extreme states allow such a narrow focus. Full Review

Rob Nelson
August 21, 2009
Rob Nelson, City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

Compared to [Takeshi] Kitano, Bruce Willis is a wimp, Harrison Ford is a creep, and Mel Gibson is a joke. Full Review

Jaime N. Christley
July 7, 2004
Jaime N. Christley, Slant Magazine

Kitano uses his own face as a blank slate with which to sketch a complicated human being. Full Review

Carlo Cavagna
October 23, 2003
Carlo Cavagna, AboutFilm.com

Kitano makes static, understated movies about existences wasted, and rediscovering the joy of being, for a brief time, alive.... Violence comes in sudden bursts, as a shocking interruption. Full Review

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
February 28, 2002
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies

A really good example of character development by actions, without the benefit of dialog or mannerisms. Full Review

Phil Hall
September 7, 2001
Phil Hall, Wired

Moody drama from Takeshi Kitano. Full Review

Maitland McDonagh
January 1, 2000
Maitland McDonagh, Film Journal International

Simultaneously coolly stylized and surprisingly emotionally persuasive. Full Review

Jeff Vice
January 1, 2000
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City

An exceptional piece of filmmaking, a drama that blurs the line between the ultra-violent cop movie genre and weepy but moving melodrama, and does it very convincingly. Full Review

Michael Dequina
January 1, 2000
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Richly satisfying to the emotions and the senses. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
January 1, 2000
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

A fascinating film. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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