Achilles to kame (Achilles and the Tortoise)

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Movie Info

Director and screenwriter Takeshi Kitano charts the strange career arc of a struggling artist in this offbeat comedy-drama. Machisu Kuramochi (Reo Yoshioka) is the son of a successful businessman (Akira Nakao) with a passion for art, and at an early age Machisu decides he wants to make painting his career. When his father commits suicide after the collapse of his business, Machisu's stepmother (Mariko Tsutsui) sends him to live with an aunt and uncle who encourage him to hone his talent. As a teenager, Machisu (now played by Yurei Yanagi) attends art school and finds his traditional style of painting challenged by the more experimental and conceptual work turned in by his classmates. However, Machisu strikes up a friendship with a fellow student, Sachiko (Kumiko Aso), who encourages him to follow his own muse and paint what he loves. Machisu and Sachiko become lifelong friends, and as they enter heir fifties, both are still painting in the style that they established in their youth. However, while Sachiko (played as an adult by Kanako Higuchi) has found an original voice in his work, it's become increasingly obvious with the passage of time that Machisu (Beat Takeshi) has borrowed all he knows from the artists he loves without bringing much of his own personality to the picture. Akires to kame (aka Achilles and the Tortoise) received its North American premiere at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Art House & International, Comedy, Drama
Directed By:

Takeshi Kitano
Written By:

Takeshi Kitano
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 2008 wide
Runtime:

119 minutes

Cast

Takeshi Kitano

Kanako Higuchi

Yûrei Yanagi

Kumiko Aso

Akira Nakao

Masatô Ibu

Reo Yoshioka

Mariko Tsutsui

Ren Osugi

Aya Enjojiu

Eri Tokunaga

Nao Omori

Aya Enjôji

Kuruo Hatoyama

Aya Enyoji

View All

Critic Reviews for Achilles to kame (Achilles and the Tortoise)

All Critics (2) | Fresh (2)

As the third part of a self-mocking trilogy "Achilles and the Tortoise" may be a bit long in the tooth, but as a standalone film about the perceived value of art it has quite some interesting things to say.

January 17, 2020 | Full Review…

Ard Vijn
ScreenAnarchy
Takeshi Kitano in a contemplative, pretty-but-is-it-art mood.

September 15, 2008

Fernando F. Croce
Slant Magazine

View All Critic Reviews (2)

Audience Reviews for Achilles to kame (Achilles and the Tortoise)

Dec 25, 2010

Something is missing. Achilles to kame actually begins with a smart fable that poses its meaning almost before the movie ends (you can completely predict the last title card before it is shown). Kitano, however, makes a very uneven testament of that misunderstood and obsessed artist. It took me half ot the movie to realize it was a comedy, so it may be seen as three different skecthes... And even so, I was left cold. 62/100

Edgar C Super Reviewer
Apr 07, 2009

Kitano keeps doing his personal movies. In his last two movies we saw the "actor Kitano" and the "film maker Kitano", now it's time to see the "artist Kitano". First we see a kid whose dream is to be a painter, then we see him struggling as a young man and the real show begins when he gets old to be Kitano himself. All his life he never stops painting. Kitano has something to say about art and paintings and he is saying it in his quirky and funny way. A must see for Kitano fans and for people that are interested in painting.

Serdar C Super Reviewer