X
  • 2000
  • PG-13
  • Sony Pictures Classics
  • 2 h 2 m
  • 2000
  • PG-13
  • Sony Pictures Classics
  • 2 h 2 m

Summary It's summer and nine-year old Masao (Sekiguchi) has no one to play with. He decides to go in search of the mother he has never met. Kikujiro (Takeshi), a brash, loudmouthed and irresponsible adult, agrees to accompany him on his quest. Ultimately, the two of them end up at a destination that neither of them could have imagined. (Son...

Directed By: Takeshi Kitano

Written By: Takeshi Kitano

  • 2000
  • PG-13
  • Sony Pictures Classics
  • 2 h 2 m
  • 2000
  • PG-13
  • Sony Pictures Classics
  • 2 h 2 m

Kikujirô no natsu

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 25 Critic Reviews
44
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 26 User Ratings
8.3
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary It's summer and nine-year old Masao (Sekiguchi) has no one to play with. He decides to go in search of the mother he has never met. Kikujiro (Takeshi), a brash, loudmouthed and irresponsible adult, agrees to accompany him on his quest. Ultimately, the two of them end up at a destination that neither of them could have imagined. (Son...

Directed By: Takeshi Kitano

Written By: Takeshi Kitano

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 25 Critic Reviews
44
44% Positive
11 Reviews
36% Mixed
9 Reviews
20% Negative
5 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 25 Critic Reviews
44
44% Positive
11 Reviews
36% Mixed
9 Reviews
20% Negative
5 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
90
A heart-tugger made totally irresistible because of the combination of Kitano's wry, sly sense of humor and his rigorous detachment.
By Kevin Thomas FULL REVIEW
70
In short, the film is emotional, perhaps even sentimental, but it strenuously avoids the sort of blatant manipulation that marks cheap sentimentality.
By Andy Klein FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 26 User Ratings
8.3
88% Positive
23 Ratings
8% Mixed
2 Ratings
4% Negative
1 Rating

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 26 User Ratings
8.3
88% Positive
23 Ratings
8% Mixed
2 Ratings
4% Negative
1 Rating

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
10
ultraman
Jul 14, 2011
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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9
toozee
Nov 15, 2018
a delightful and inspiring film. a film where the fable, the poetry and the unusual cohabit happily.
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63
No one has done the journey quite like Takeshi Kitano in Kikujiro
By Desmond Ryan FULL REVIEW
50
Kitano's first major comedy is loose and likable.
By David Sterritt FULL REVIEW
40
Dreamy touches can't compensate for the film's main flaw, which is that the relationship between the two main characters never really develops.
By Dana Stevens FULL REVIEW
38
Even allowing for differences in national styles, Kikujiro sprawls and stumbles. It's a road movie that turns into its own detour.
By Jay Carr FULL REVIEW
0
The film isn't just bad; it's a barely coherent, inert mess -- a heart-tugger for voidoids.
By Owen Gleiberman FULL REVIEW
See All 25 Critic Reviews
8
DawdlingPoet
May 17, 2022
This is a film about a young child (Masao) accompanied on a journey to meet his mother. He's accompanied by a rather angry and grumpy man (Kikujiro), who barely knows the child by all accounts. It's a bit random and certainly pretty quirky but I also thought it had quite a dreamlike feel to it, with soft lighting at times and some scenes depicting what appear to be dream type sequences, with symbolic figures from, I assume, Japanese culture doing choreographed moves and the like. It definitely has an arty feel to it at times. I found the grumpy old man quite amusing, even though most people likely wouldn't - he isn't someone you'd want to annoy, or you'd never hear the end of it, that's for sure. The two main characters seem very much like fish out of the proverbial water, given their clothes and looks. The music played helps to add to the emotional feel of some scenes - it adds a feeling of affection to the two main characters - Kikujiro may be mostly unlikeable but there's something appealing about the way the two of them muddle on somehow. I liked seeing the lighter side of the mans character, when he attempts to 'entertain'. It was surprisingly funny at times, although also somewhat sad too. Yes, I'd recommend this film.
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8
zakbe
Aug 19, 2013
If you are finding something hilarious, with some point of Japanese-flavour nonsenses, and at the same time you don´t mind emotional chapters, this is a very good choice
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7
hardkor33
Jul 23, 2013
Warm and funny, and even sad at parts, Kikujiro is just a simple, lighthearted movie with absolutley beautiful music. And honestly wouldn't be near as good without it.
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See All 5 User Reviews

Details

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Production Company Bandai Visual Company, Nippon Herald Films, Office Kitano, Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co.
Release Date May 26, 2000
Duration 2 h 2 m
Rating PG-13
Genres
Website https://www.larabbia.com/l-ete-de-kikujiro
View All Details

Awards

Valladolid International Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Awards of the Japanese Academy
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Cannes Film Festival
• 1 Nomination

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