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Kids Return
キッズ・リターン
1996 107 min Japan 16+
★7.8
Drama, Crime
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Description
Shinji and Masaru spend most of their school days harassing fellow classmates and playing pranks. They drop out and Shinji becomes a small-time boxer, while Masaru joins up with a local yakuza gang. However, the world is a tough place.
Budget:
$125,000
Starring
Ken Kaneko
Actor
Masanobu Andô
Actor
Leo Morimoto
Actor
Awards
14 wins & 3 nominations total
Key opinion
Kitano’s "Kids Return" is a poignant, life-affirming drama that captures the chaotic transition from youth to adulthood through the divergent paths of two friends. While some viewers find the character motivations and plot trajectory initially unengaging, the film's realistic portrayal of missed opportunities and its resonant, nostalgic finale earn it high acclaim.
| Theme | The film masterfully captures the essence of youth, failure, and the transition into adulthood without resorting to melodrama. | |
| Score | Joe Hisaishi's evocative score enriches the film's emotional landscape. | |
| Acting | The subtle performances in the final reunion scene provide a powerful emotional payoff that recontextualizes the entire narrative. | |
| Originality | The narrative avoids typical genre stakes in favor of a personal, realistic reflection on ordinary lives. | |
| Pacing | The deliberate and sometimes sluggish pace rewards patient viewers, though it may feel aimless or tedious to those seeking a tighter narrative structure. | |
| Theme | Audiences are divided on the protagonists; some find them relatable symbols of youthful struggle, while others view them as unlikable and directionless. |