Making-of Kids Return

Two high school dropouts, Masaru and Shinji, embark on a chaotic journey through the Tokyo underworld. Initially dabbling in petty crime and street fights, their paths diverge as Masaru joins a yakuza clan and Shinji becomes a promising boxer. Despite their separate pursuits, their intertwined destinies and past loyalties continually draw them back together.

Kids Return was a critical and commercial success, lauded for its raw energy, dark humor, and poignant exploration of friendship and lost youth. It is often cited as a turning point in Takeshi Kitano's career, showcasing his distinctive directorial style.

• Praised for its unflinching portrayal of disillusioned youth.
• Applauded for Kitano's signature blend of violence and dark comedy.
• Noted for its strong performances and compelling narrative of friendship.

Google audience: Viewers widely appreciate the film's raw, energetic depiction of adolescence and the complexities of male friendship. The movie's blend of humor and tragedy resonates strongly with audiences.

Winner of the Best Director award at the 1996 Hochi Film Awards.

While 'Kids Return' is a fictional story, it draws heavily on Kitano's own experiences and observations of delinquency and the yakuza during his youth in Tokyo.