The Cinematheque

New Restoration

“His work was emblematic of his era, especially 1980s electronic music, but also felt beamed from the future … The doc is not just a look at the man but also something of a city symphony, taking a great deal of time to explore Tokyo, with his music acting as a mood setter.”

Dan Schindel, Hyperallergic

Experience time, music, and Tokyo through the eyes and ears of visionary composer Sakamoto Ryuichi with this collage-like immersion into his world. Shot by multidisciplinary artist Elizabeth Lennard over the course of a week in 1984, Tokyo Melody captures the Yellow Magic Orchestra member and electronic-music pioneer both in the studio during the creation of his album Ongaku Zukan (“Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia”) and out and about on the city streets, offering a vivid snapshot of both his unique creative process and the vibrant bustle of Bubble-era Japan. Largely unseen for decades, Tokyo Melody is a tribute to one of the twentieth century’s great artists that’s as unconventional and creatively unbound as its subject. —Janus Films

In Japanese with English subtitles

“Lennard captures an awe-inspiring portrait of the extraordinary musician—one that taps into the very nature of the artist’s raison d’être and remains a testament to Sakamoto’s profound brilliance.”

Japan Society