Kitano at Toronto

Alex.Zahlten at gmx.de Alex.Zahlten at gmx.de
Mon Sep 8 23:12:07 EDT 2003


I think it`s also important to say how the tap dance sequence in ZATOICHI is
used, along with the other seqences in the film that use the rythmic
assemblage of "rural" sounds produced from hoes and stomping in mud: as a
celebration of a community spirit closely connected to the "earth"/land. This is
actually one of the more consistent themes in the film, that otherwise is (this is
not meant negatively) something of a thematic bric-a-brac (and, unlikely as
it might seem, something of a "feel-good movie", I thought). 
I also thought it`s strangely reminiscent of what Kawase Naomi was doing in
her latest film SHARA, with the same strange retro-utopian flavor (though I
much prefer Kitano`s more ambiguous stance). I was thinking if this theme is
gaining steam in Japanese film at the moment, but I`m still undecided... Any
thoughts on this from anyone?

Alex Zahlten



> >And the grand finale is a real eyeopener. A synchronised chorus line of
> >geishas and peasants in wooden clogs actually do tapdance a 10 minute
> >(?)number that has elements of Stomp, Tap Dogs and a heavy dose of Savion
> >Glover. The accompanying music is produced with Kodo type drums, hammers
> >and similar noises which are syncopated, rather than musical instruments.
> 
> Kitano called on tap group The Stripes to choreograph and appear in the 
> grand finale. He became acquainted with them two years ago when they 
> appeared on his TV arts variety show "Takeshi no Dare Demo Pikaso". He 
> subsequently saw them live, and got them to teach him tap dancing, and
> made 
> the tap dance scene especially for them. The Stripes appear as four
> farmers 
> who lead 60 people in the giant tap dancing scene. Kitano doesn't do the 
> soft shoe shuffle in the scene himself, despite having been forced to
> learn 
> the art in his early days as a comedian in Asakusa.
> Traditional straw sandals were adapted for tap dancing, and.the dance 
> rhythm was beaten out by improvised instruments, as The Stripes do in
> their 
> live performances. As befits the rural setting, they used hoes, spades and
> 
> hammers. During filming, Takeshi's home apparently served as a training 
> studio for the improvement of the tap sequence.  
> 
> Don Brown
> 
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-- 
alex at nipponconnection.de

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