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The Rubin

Zatoichi

Cabaret Cinema

August 8–9, 2014
10:30 PM–12:30 AM
Free

Free ticket with a $10 K2 minimum

2003, Japan, Takeshi Kitano, 116 min.
Starring Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, and Yui Natsukawa.
Introduced by Stephen Globus
Stephen Globus is a native NYC’er – born on the same street as the Rubin Museum (17th Street). He has been actively involved in the Museum, Arts, and cinema/photography scene for years as an inventor, photographer and sponsor. He started his philanthropic support of Fusion and Japanese arts after selling his Plasma display company to Matsushita (Panasonic Displays) and joining their Board- traveling to Japan frequently. He is an important sponsor (calls himself a “cultural provocateur”) to Japan Society most notably re-energizing their film program with the annual “Globus Film Series” and their special cinema events, Mr. Globus has a 3 level “Washitsu” (Japanese space) on Union Square that includes his Japanese teahouse, a private ryokan, and personal gallery.

Movie Medicine Facts
Kitano said that he wanted the fights to be as realistic as possible, but that he wanted the blood to be extremely exaggerated.
The end dance sequence is a tribute to many of the popular Japanese films, in which the Hollywood-style happy ending was followed by a sudden “burst into song”. He wanted to attempt this, but in a different type of way. Kitano combined traditional Kabuki theatre clog-dancing with “the latest African-American tap style”.
The blood in the film has been described by many as being “too CGI”. Kitano did this intentionally, wanting to “soften the shock to the audience” due to the high body count. Kitano told the CGI artist he wanted the blood to “look like flowers blossoming across the screen.”


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