Ryuichi Sakamoto: async Live at the Park Avenue Armory

Ryuichi Sakamoto: async Live… is an unusually beautiful and intimate concert documentary and an excellent introduction to Sakamoto's music for those unfamiliar with the artist, recorded in the same period as the documentary Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda. In the spring of 2017, Sakamoto played his album async live for the first time in New York. Alone by his piano, synthesizer or laptop Sakamoto performs the different tracks, which range from simple, psalm-like sequences to more daring experimental stuff. The film is shot with eight different cameras, which enable us tune in close on the performance and allows the strong emotional power of the music to really shine.

SAKAMOTO NIGHT: LIVE FROM NEW YORK

Two nights during the festival we will facilitate a Sakamoto double bill and screen Ryuichi Sakamoto: async Live… immediately after the documentary Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (see separate program note). On Wednesday november 14th the films screen at Kulturkirken Jakob and Vega Scene, whereas on Sunday november 18 they screen at Cinemateket. Note: You may of course chose to watch only one of the films, and separate tickets must be purchased.

Stephen Nomura Schible (b. 1970) is a director and producer, born in Japan, and now based in New York. He studied film at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and has helped introduce several Japanese filmmakers to a Western audience. Schible has previously directed a video documentary about Eric Clapton, and co-produced Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation (2003).