Third Window Films will release Takeshi Kitano’s brilliant coming-of-age drama Kids Return (1996) at the end of October. This is the latest film to be released on Blu-ray by Third Window Films thanks to Office Kitano updating their titles with 2K masters.
Regular readers will know that I have reviewed Hana-bi and Kikujiro and Dolls, but I missed the last release, A Scene at the Sea. This is the second film he directed but does not star in after A Scene at the Sea (1991) and much like that one, it is one of his best as it charts the relationship between two friends at high school who face tough choices in life. It has an excellent story and a fantastic soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi. Here’s a track.
Here’s some information from the press release:
Kids Return 
キッズ・リターン 「Kizzu Rita-n」
Release Date: May 09th, 1997 (Japan)
UK Release Date: October 24th, 2016
UK Distributor: Third Window Films
Running Time: 107 mins.
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Writer: Takeshi Kitano (Screenplay),
Starring: Masanobu Ando, Ken Kaneko, Yuko Daike, Ryo Ishibashi, Susumu Terajima, Atsuki Ueda, Mitsuko Oka, Michisuke Kashiwaya, Hatsuo Yamaya,
Here’s an old trailer:
Synopsis: Takeshi Kitano’s sixth film, Kids Return, is a cinematic tale about Shinji (Masanobu Ando) and Masaru (Ken Kaneko), two high-school dropouts, growing up in a Tokyo suburb. Shinji and Masaru are playful, self-centred and irresponsible. They wag school, ridicule their teachers and bully other students, and spend most of their time at the local coffee house and noodle shop. Shinji pursues an amateur boxing career, but does not have the strength or determination to succeed amidst the cutthroat competition. Masaru joins a yakuza gang, quickly rising in the ranks of the local mob, but due to his lack of discipline, he too soon loses his position. Three years later, Shinji and Masaru meet again and return to their old school.
Featuring a new 2K remaster from Office Kitano!
The first 1000 copies feature a limited cardboard slipcase with new illustrated artwork by Marie Bergeron
