Director: Stephen Nomura Schimble

Primary genre: Documentary

With the recent passing of Ryuichi Sakamoto, it feels appropriately for “Coda”, a documentary detailing the creative process behind one of the most influential music composers of all time to re-emerge.

Opening up with Sakamoto detailing stoically his throat cancer diagnosis, director Stephen Nomura Schimble does not utilize melodramatic devices and neither he emotionally manipulates the tone to gain the audience’s sympathy. Instead he uses wisely the 90 minute running time to unpack the motivation behind this extraordinary individual’s persistence to continue his creative journey amidst a variety of events (e.g., the 2011 Japanese tsunami, the attack of the World Trading Centre) and personal activistic beliefs.

Lacking an emphasis on musical terms or connotations that might drive those unaffiliated with film scoring and music away, the camera presents an intimate portrait of a gentle soul. In one of the most memorable moments, Sakamoto seeks to record the sounds of nature and their cathartic power they bear once they are incorporated to one of the many ideas he has. Intercut by mini live performances that feature beautiful piano pieces which range from melancholic to hopeful, “Coda” never outstays its welcome nor loses its primary creative focus.

Witnessing Sakamoto experiencing for the first time novel musical landscapes through the employment of unorthodox approaches (e.g., a mug dragged across a drum plate) or by capitalizing on the soothing symphony that Greenland’s melted snow can offer, demonstrates how this unique personality perceives the world, its interactions with us and most importantly, with his ears. A segment about how we conform the piano to sound the way we want it to is delightful, emphasizing “wabi sabi” concepts which are missed from the (current) Western point of view.

Rightfully an icon for many reasons and backed up by a vast work catalogue of films, videogames, concerts and his own personal albums, glimpses of a young Sakamoto in the 80s are an appropriate memento of how this sound absorbing master managed to stay intact as the world around him changed (for the better or worse); his personality seems to be an ideal fit for a documentary that narratively showcases the pipeline of musical composition less through the glorified lens of music worship and more through a soul reflecting activity which aims to fulfill one’s creative desires and esoteric satisfaction. Just like Sakamoto behaved and interacted with others, “Coda” embraces the presentation of its thematic context the same way; with humility and appreciation.

+Subtle and stoic approach

+No melodrama or emotional manipulation

+Right length

+Never loses focus

+Behind the scenes creative process for one genius individual

+Beautiful, haunting music