Review - Ryuichi Sakomoto | Opus
Directed by: Neo Sora
Starring: Ryuichi Sakamoto
Running Time: 103 minutes
Rating: 5/5
The oft forgotten form of the concert film is in the middle of a rennaisance, with classics re-releasing, and superstars like Taylor Swift and Beyonce taking their record breaking tours to the silver screen. Still, walking into Ryuichi Sakomoto | Opus, I knew I was in for something different, something much more intimate.
The titular Ryuichi Sakamoto has been a towering figure in the world of not only classical music, but also film scores over the course of the last decades. His talents can be heard on various film projects including The Last Emperor and The Revenant. But this film captures a much more special moment, its his final recorded performance, filmed by his son Neo Sora.
An extremely intimate affair, shot in NHK Studios in Tokyo, in beautiful black and white, the film stays small focusing on the maestro and his piano. Ryuchi navigates the audience through his most important milestones, including his more popular work from ‘Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence’ as well as his personal piano compositions.
I just can’t begin to express in how moving this film was. It’s full of grace and elegance and at times it feels like Ryuichi is bearing his soul to us. He is not in pain, but has to take pauses on occasion, and catch his strength. But is able to share the ultimate portrait of himself and his work.
Even thinking about it now, while listening to his music as I write this, I am overcome with what I felt watching this beautiful film. His music has always had an ability to express deep longing and connection through sound. It cuts through culture and language to being something that can be shared with anyone all over the world.
I just couldn’t recommend this more, regardless of familiarity of his work. It’s one of the most beautiful movies I’ve seen all year. With focusing on just the man and his piano, we are let in on something that feels so private, so personal, that you almost feel like we shouldn’t be there. But at the same time Ryuichi is right there inviting you in as if he has been your friend for years.
There was a quote that was shared upon his passing, that was one of his favorites.
“Ars longs, vita brevis”
Art is long, life is short.
This is a beautiful elegy that is beyond words, but not beyond sound and image.
