Hana-Bi (Fireworks)

After reading some great Japanese literature recently (Junichiro Tanizaki's Seven Japanese Tales), I've become interested in the Japanese and their art. Tanizaki's stories were incredibly powerful, yet so very quiet. Similarly, Takeshi Kitano's Hana-Bi delivers violence and beauty in one of the quietest, most profound films I've watched in years. This is a gangster film, carried out in a manner I'd never before encountered. I found out about Kitano's Hana-Bi from my creative writing professor Rick Barthelme, who has a poster of the film outside of his seminar room.

The movie involves an ex-cop named Nishi (played by Kitano himself). After a stakeout gone horribly awry, Nishi's partner Hirobe is paralyzed, and another officer is killed. Subsequently, Nishi quits the force, staying home with his wife who is dying of leukemia. In an effort to maintain his finances, Nishi becomes involved with the Yakuza (mafia). He goes into to debt with them, and henceforth, must make a few bad decisions to keep from being murdered over his debt.

The film switches from Nishi's present to the occasional slow-motion pain of his past experience, the circumstances that have made him the character depicted on screen. Often he is seen with Hirobe, before a visually stunning beach, as Hirobe describes how painful his life has become since he was paralyzed. Hirobe suggests that Nishi take his wife on a trip before she dies, and Nishi makes plans to do so. Unfortunately, he is broke, and in debt with the Yakuza, making these plans difficult to carry out. In order to obtain the money for the trip, he must go to some drastic measures (I won't give this part away). Before leaving for the trip, he pays the Yakuza back in full. However, they become suspicious of how he's obtained such an enormous amount of money in so little time; they want more from him. The rest of the film is a visually stunning and charming interaction between Nishi and his wife as they travel the countryside, being tracked by the Yakuza. This portion of the film is peppered with confrontations between Nishi and the gangsters--some of the most incredible violence I've ever seen in a movie.

Aside from the violence and visuals, Nishi's character is illustrated beautifully. He is a character depicted through action rather than words. You can literally count on one hand how many speaking parts he has in this movie, but this doesn't take away from the strength of the character.

The word Hana-Bi is a mixture of the terms "fire" and "flower," and I don't think a better title could be given to this movie. It is like watching an orchid unfold in a warzone. See it.