“Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus”, interview with the director Neo Sora and the D.o.P Bill Kirsten

September 9, 2023

Neo Sora, director and Bill Kirsten, D.o.P, "Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus". The greatness of Sakamoto in a final intimate concert. A musical testament..

"Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus", interview with the director Neo Sora and the D.o.P Bill Kirsten Angelo Acerbi

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The final effort of a live performance, in “Ryiuchi Sakamoto: Opus“, of one of the most important contemporary composers and musicians in the world becomes a cathartic session of self analysis and intimate discovery. The essential concert, just the maestro and his piano, manages to open infinite mental territories in each one of us, and also the awareness that we’ll no longer have new music form him to soothe our souls.

A definitive collection of masterpieces

“Ryuichi Sakamoto:Opus” has been decided and commissioned by the maestro himself, who wanted to gather all his major successes in one final performace. It was shot over 8 days.

Weakness and strength

Throughout the film, we testify the effort Sakamoto made to perform and his strong will to do so at the same time. He relaxes throughout the performance , he smiles sometimes, but everything stays essential and minimal, as the work of the director and the d.o.p.

Plot

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.

Written by: Angelo Acerbi

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