PRESENTS
RYUICHI SAKAMOTO | OPUS
A CONCERT FILM BY NEO SORA
OFFICIAL SELECTION
VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
SPOTLIGHT
NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Films We Like has partnered with Janus Films to release in Canada Academy Award® winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s final concert film, Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus, directed by Neo Sora. Opus was a standout at this year’s Venice International Film Festival where it premiered out-of-competition.
Sakamoto was a singular musical force, from his early work with Japanese electronic pop band Yellow Magic Orchestra to his solo work and collaborative albums to his unforgettable work on film scores, from Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence to The Last Emperor to the score to The Revenant with Alva Noto and The National’s Bryce Dessner. Sakamoto additionally worked on multiple television shows and video games.
On March 28th, 2023, legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away after his struggle against cancer. In the years leading up to his death, Sakamoto could no longer perform live. Single concerts, not to mention sprawling global tours, were too taxing. Despite this, in late 2022, Sakamoto mustered all of his energy to leave the world with one final performance: a concert film, featuring just him and his piano. Curated by Sakamoto himself and presented in his chosen order, the twenty pieces performed in the film wordlessly narrate his life through his music. The selection spans his entire career, from his popstar Yellow Magic Orchestra period, to his magnificent Bertolucci film scores, to music from his meditative final album, 12. Intimately filmed in a space he knew well, surrounded by his most trusted collaborators, Sakamoto bares his soul through his music, knowing this may be the last time that he can present his art. A celebration of an artist’s life in the purest sense, Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus is the definitive swan song of the beloved maestro.
RUNNING TIME: 103 minutes
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Japan, 2023
LANGUAGE: Japanese with English subtitles
MEDIA CONTACT: Mercy Lam mercy@filmswelike.com
PRESS MATERIALS: Further information
About Films We Like
Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Carmine Street Guitars) Films We Like is a boutique distributor of documentary, independent, and international films in Canada. Recent releases include Afire, Orlando, My Political Biography and Fallen Leaves.