An acrylic painting on wood panel, titled 'Hana-bi', of two surreal figures at the beach. In the distance a figure with a flower as its head sits in a wheelchair close to the water. The other sits on a piece of driftwood with a roman candle exploding in an kaleidoscope effect.

Hana-bi (Fireworks)

(1997, Takeshi Kitano)

I’ve finally come full circle. I started painting this fireworks girls series with Takeshi Kitano’s, Sonatine, and now I'm watching his Hana-bi (Fireworks) movie. I probably should have painted this one first, eh? Anyways.

There are so many beautiful scenes in this movie. The visuals really complement the soundtrack and the violence in the movie is GREAT (you know a punch has an impact when it stops the music). There is a lot of magic to this movie. I loved watching the paralyzed friend create paintings and I appreciated them even more when I found out they are Kitano’s actual paintings made after he got into the motorcycle accident. I really hope you can find this movie and relax to it. Enjoy~


A screenshot of a surreal painting with flowers. From the film 'Hana-bi'. An animated gif of a scene from the movie 'Hana-bi' of the tide washing along the bottom of a wheelchair. A screenshot from Takeshi Kitano's film 'Hana-bi' of his character in sunglasses setting up a camera for his wife waiting in the background.

© 1997 - Nippon Herald Films