Da Ryuichi Sakamotos kreftsykdom fikk spredning, ba den 70 år gamle komponisten sønnen om å spille inn og filme hans siste opus. Sakamoto lagde nye arrangementer av mange av sine viktigste verker i en karriere på flere tiår. Fra hans tid i Yellow Magic Orchestra til filmmusikk fra klassikere som God jul, Mr. Lawrence (1983) og Den siste keiseren (1987).

Når du ser ham alene bak pianoet, svekket av kreft, så føler du mest av alt Sakamotos viljestyrke. Hans komposisjoner har en unik evne til å fremkalle kontemplasjon, og Opus er intet unntak.

«Opus lets Sakamoto deliver an elegy, and in the process, an autobiography of his creative journey, as captured through the precision and poetry of director Neo Sora’s camera.»

– Todd Gilchrist, Variety –

Neo Sora er sønn av komponist Ryuichi Sakamoto, som var subjektet for hans første langfilm, Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus (2023). Hans fiksjonsfilmdebut var Happyend (2024).

***

The very last farewell from a legendary Japanese musician and composer comes from his own son, Neo Sora. A contemplative farewell gift from Sakamoto and his piano.

When Ryuichi Sakamoto’s cancer had reached stage four, the 70-year-old composer reached out to his son to record and film his last opus. He created new arrangements of many of the most important works of his decades-spanning career, from his time in the Yellow Magic Orchestra to famous scores from films such as Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) and The Last Emperor (1987).

Seeing him alone with a piano, weakened by cancer, you most of all feel Sakamoto's persistence. His compositions have a unique way of nurturing contemplation, and Opus is no exception.

«Opus lets Sakamoto deliver an elegy, and in the process, an autobiography of his creative journey, as captured through the precision and poetry of director Neo Sora’s camera.»

– Todd Gilchrist, Variety –

Neo Sora is the son of composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, the subject of his first feature-length film, Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus (2023). His fiction feature debut was Happyend (2024).