Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus

  • a man sitting at a piano.
  • a man sitting at a piano.
  • a man sitting facing a piano.
  • a man about to play a piano.

“New York Times Critic’s Pick. Opus holds its own as the rare cinematic space for contemplation” – Alissa Wilkinson, The New York Times

“A final performance for the ages, showcasing Sakamoto’s ingenuity and musical legacy for the next generation of fans who will not be privileged to watch him live in concert.” —RogerEbert.com

“What unfolds onscreen is no mere performance, no mere gesture, but a face-to-face between presence and absence.” —Hollywood Reporter

A parting gift and definitive swan song of one of the world’s greatest musicians.

A celebration of an artist’s life in the purest sense, Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus is the definitive swan song of one of the world’s greatest musicians. In late 2022, as a parting gift, Ryuichi Sakamoto mustered all of his energy to leave us with one final performance: a concert film featuring just him and his piano. Curated and sequenced by Sakamoto himself, the twenty pieces featured in the film wordlessly narrate his life through his wide-ranging oeuvre. The selection spans his entire career, from his pop-star period with Yellow Magic Orchestra and his magnificent scores for filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci to his meditative final album,12. Intimately filmed in a space he knew well and surrounded by his most trusted collaborators, including director Neo Sora, his son, Sakamoto bares his soul through his exquisitely haunting melodies, knowing this was the last time he would be able to present his art.

Runtime
1h 42m
Year
2023
Director
Neo Sora
Format
DCP
Country
Japan
Language
Japanese with English subtitles
First Showing
April 21, 2024
Categories
  • Assisted Listening