Tony Takitani
Ryuichi Sakamoto
" Sakamoto's effort is very impressive and its impact on screen and disc is undeniably brilliant in capturing a mood of solitude. "Written by Joep de Bruijn - Review of the regular release
This is a very good, subtle film about a very isolated, lonely man called Tony Takitani. He's been alone for such a long time, and then finds someone, who sadly dies in an accident leading him back to his old life. The film was made in a unique slideshow shot style and includes a sad voice-over by a storyteller and a score by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Sakamoto probably didn't think much about the way he wanted to score it and went with the most obvious, instinctive idea; he used a solo piano. It's much appreciated that the composer kept it an unpolished piano score that preserved that essential isolated purity. Sakamoto's music is unforgettable because of its simplicity and adds much to the hypnotic feel of the film, which reminds one of going through a photo book, being remembered of painful things. It's incredible to see how sensitive and poetic the music gets by short silences between notes and using soft, slow chord progression.
The music is mostly very dramatic because of the use of heartbreaking chord progression pieces that are reprised on certain key points in the film, underlining the tragedy of the character's existence without his wife. But some material is more wandering around, seemingly lacking any structure. I also loved the rather lilting music used in montages wherein you witness Takitani happily working as a passionate technical illustrator. His happy time with the real (and only) love of his life was underscored with somewhat melancholic, light music.
Sakamoto's effort is very impressive and its impact on screen and disc is undeniably brilliant in capturing a mood of solitude. It's a guaranteed pleasure for anyone who likes intimate solo piano scores.
Tracklisting
1. DNA Intro (11.44)
2. Solitude (4.54)
3. DNA (6.31)
4. Bottom (0.41)
5. Fotografia 1 (3.33)
6. Fotografia 2 (3.43)
7. Solitude Short (2.34)
8. Harmonics 1 (0.50)
9. Solitude One Note (3.29)
10. Harmonics 2 (1.01)
11. Solitude Theme (4.05)
Total Length: 43.05
Sakamoto probably didn't think much about the way he wanted to score it and went with the most obvious, instinctive idea; he used a solo piano. It's much appreciated that the composer kept it an unpolished piano score that preserved that essential isolated purity. Sakamoto's music is unforgettable because of its simplicity and adds much to the hypnotic feel of the film, which reminds one of going through a photo book, being remembered of painful things. It's incredible to see how sensitive and poetic the music gets by short silences between notes and using soft, slow chord progression.
The music is mostly very dramatic because of the use of heartbreaking chord progression pieces that are reprised on certain key points in the film, underlining the tragedy of the character's existence without his wife. But some material is more wandering around, seemingly lacking any structure. I also loved the rather lilting music used in montages wherein you witness Takitani happily working as a passionate technical illustrator. His happy time with the real (and only) love of his life was underscored with somewhat melancholic, light music.
Sakamoto's effort is very impressive and its impact on screen and disc is undeniably brilliant in capturing a mood of solitude. It's a guaranteed pleasure for anyone who likes intimate solo piano scores.
Tracklisting
1. DNA Intro (11.44)
2. Solitude (4.54)
3. DNA (6.31)
4. Bottom (0.41)
5. Fotografia 1 (3.33)
6. Fotografia 2 (3.43)
7. Solitude Short (2.34)
8. Harmonics 1 (0.50)
9. Solitude One Note (3.29)
10. Harmonics 2 (1.01)
11. Solitude Theme (4.05)
Total Length: 43.05