Filmed just months before Sakamoto’s death at 72, Opus is both a moving performance by a dying man and a chance for the composer to delve into the finely nuanced notes of a lifetime’s work; a one-time-only gift to fans that conveys the depth of emotion in a body of work that prizes Satie-esque gestures of minimalism and perfectly rendered, heartbreaking melodies over the electro-pop he played with the Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Helmed by Sakamoto’s son, Neo Sora, and filmed in black and white, there’s an unexpected drama to the performance as Sakamoto occasionally gets it wrong or, exhausted, announces a brief pause to proceedings. Featuring pieces that cover the gamut of his 50-year career including fresh readings of YMO classics “Tong Poo” and “Happy Ending” and several of his unforgettable soundtracks – including themes from Nagisa Ōshima’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) and Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor (1987) and The Sheltering Sky (1990) – this stark but intensely intimate film is a tender, brave and honest intermingling of art as life and, inevitably, a rumination on mortality. — Gary Steel
Local tip
He tīwhiri mō te rohe
Make a night of it in the Aotea Arts Quarter. Aotea Square, Auckland Town Hall, Q Theatre and plenty of nearby dining options are all within a short walk of The Civic.
Getting there
Te huarahi ki reira
The Civic is on the corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets in the city centre. Te Waihorotiu Station is right nearby, making the train an easy option, while frequent bus services stop along Queen and Wellesley Streets. If driving, The Civic Car Park beneath Aotea Square is the closest parking option. For more transport information, check out our Getting Around page.
More info
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