Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus

The recently departed Sakamoto in one last magical performance, where he alone at the piano plays 20 greatest hits, filmed with poetic precision by his son Neo Sora.

In the wake of successful concert films featuring artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé over the past year, we are presented with a different contribution to the genre here. Rarely has the cinema, with its unique qualities for focused audiovisual experiences, felt like a more fitting stage for a work than in this case. The Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away from cancer in March 2023. Before his departure, he managed to conclude his illustrious career with this final performance of 20 carefully selected pieces, including catchy Yellow Magic Orchestra songs, grand Bertolucci scores, and contemplative compositions from his last album "12." A master's farewell, and a beutiful and utterly indispensable musical and cinematic experience.

• Johan Blomqvist