Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda is a poignant and thought-provoking documentary by director Stephen Nomura Schible from 2017 spotlighting the life, creative journey, and humanitarian work of the revered Japanese musician, Ryuichi Sakamoto. As intriguing as its subject, this cinematic tribute offers an intimate account of Sakamoto's life, his creative process, and the profound influence of his music on both his fans and the wider world.

Sakamoto rose to prominence as part of the pioneering electronic music band, Yellow Magic Orchestra in the late 1970s, ushering in a new era of synth-pop and techno music in the global music scene. Through the course of the documentary, viewers get a close-up look at the band's creative trailblazing, and how Sakamoto's exploratory spirit served to cement his artistic relevance in the decades that followed.

The chronicle of Sakamoto's life, however, is more than a parade of his numerous accolades, of which there are many. Central to the narrative of Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda is his tireless quest to harness and transcend the boundaries of sound. Sakamoto's curiosity for sound holds no bounds, whether the sound produced by a piece of glass underneath his shoe, or the echoes of a restricted radiation zone in Fukushima. This inquisitiveness towards the world around him informs his music, resulting in compositions that are as ground-breaking as they are soul-stirring.

The documentary also captures the fragility of existence. One can't help but be moved by Sakamoto's gentle resilience in the face of an unexpected cancer diagnosis. This life-altering revelation serves not as a deterrent, but rather as a catalyst to his increased artistic output. The process of Sakamoto dealing with this news, while continuing to pour his heart and soul into his music, lends an emotionally resonant note to the documentary. His bravery in approaching disease with clarity and openness leaves an indelible mark both on those who know him and the viewer.

But Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda is not just about the musician; it also introduces Sakamoto the environmental activist. His commitment to raising awareness about nuclear disasters, dating back to the Chernobyl catastrophe and continuing with the more recent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, reflects his deep sense of social responsibility. The correlation between his humanitarian work and how it shapes his music, particularly his haunting composition for radioactivity in Fukushima, is profoundly moving.

The film's scenic cinematography, capturing the diverse locations that have featured in Sakamoto's life and career, serves to enhance an already deeply engaging narrative. From crowded cityscapes to serene snow-covered landscapes, every frame serves to mirror the transcendent quality of Sakamoto’s music. Gifted with the ability to turn anything, even the most mundane, into melodious symphony, Sakamoto's world is portrayed as one where music dwells in every nook and cranny.

In 'Coda', Sakamoto's evolution as an artist over time is laid bare for the audience to behold. We see his transition from the avant-garde, electronica of Yellow Magic Orchestra, to his award-winning film scores for features like 'The Sheltering Sky' and 'The Last Emperor', to his provocative post-cancer compositions.

Through intimate interviews and rare archival footage, Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda presents an immersive, involving exploration into the musical genius that is Ryuichi Sakamoto. His theories on sound, music, life, and death are spoken not only through his words, but, perhaps more importantly, through his music—a breath-taking sonic journey of noise and silence, tonality and dissonance, order and chaos.

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda serves as both an enchanting profile of Sakamoto's life and a tribute to his enduring musical legacy—a tale of a man who continues to transform personal struggle and life’s disarray into art of uncommon beauty and tranquility. This documentary might not just attract the fans of Sakamoto but anyone interested in an exploration of humanity and art. It is a potent testament to the restorative and enduring power of music, an ode to the enduring spirit of an artist constantly in pursuit of the 'new sound'.