Sonatine, 1993

Sonatine, 1993
Takeshi Kitano, 
94 minutes

Sonatine may be the purest example of Kitano's singularity as a cult filmmaker, a fresh take on the age-old yakuza genre that's infused by odd flourishes of style and playfulness, and jarring outbursts of humor and violence. Scott Tobias, A.V. Club

Takeshi Kitano wrote, directed, and stars in this 1993 Japanese yakuza film, an urban thriller that centers on world-weary gangster Murakawa, played by Kitano. Instructed by his boss to settle a dispute in Okinawa, Murakawa soon finds himself caught in the middle of a yakuza gang war. Ritualistic gunplay, however, gives way to a seaside interlude of gangsters at the beach–as a sudden switch transforms the approach from splatter action to arthouse film. Sonatine has been praised by Sight & Sound ("exquisite gangster film") and selected by Quentin Tarantino for distribution through his Rolling Thunder company.

​Tuesday Evenings at the Modern: Films is a summer extension of the lecture series. This film-based weekly program runs through the summer months and strives to continue the consideration of ideas and issues pertaining to the art and architecture of the Modern, as well as to contemporary art in general. The screenings this summer focus on the films and recommendations of the artist Takashi Murakami. Visit www.themodern.org/films for more information.

To create a full experience, these presentations include a brief introduction and opportunity for discussion following the films. Seating is available in the Modern's auditorium at 6:30 pm, and the program begins at 7 pm. The museum's galleries are open until 7 pm on Tuesdays during the series. This program is free and open to the public. Up to two free tickets can be obtained at the information desk beginning at 5 pm the day of the screening.