MUBI is will stream the exclusive digital premiere of Stephen Nomura Schible’s Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda, an intimate documentary about the renowned Japanese composer, tracing the evolution of his music throughout his career and offering stunning insight into the artist’s creative process. MUBI released Coda in theaters this summer beginning on July 6 in New York at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and North American debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. In addition to an extended six week run in New York, the film has continued to roll out nationally in cinemas, screening in more than 40 theaters across the country in the lead up to its September 7 debut on the streaming platform.
Named a Critic’s Pick by The New York Times, Coda has grossed more than $100,000 to date, a landmark achievement for a film released theatrically by a streaming platform. The film has delighted audiences and critics alike, reaching the existing fan base of Sakamoto and introducing him to a new generation of music and film lovers. With a career spanning more than four decades, encompassing 80s pop stardom and remarkable collaborations with filmmakers like Brian De Palma, Bernardo Bertolucci and Alejandro González Iñárritu, Ryuichi Sakamoto is a true living legend.
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda will premiere exclusively on MUBI September 7 followed by a release on iTunes October 2.
One of the most important artists of our era, Ryuichi Sakamoto has had a prolific career spanning over four decades. From techno-pop stardom to Oscar®-winning film composer, the evolution of his music has coincided with his life journeys. Following Fukushima, Sakamoto became an iconic figure in Japan’s social movement against nuclear power. As Sakamoto returns to music following a cancer diagnosis, his haunting awareness of life crises leads to a resounding new masterpiece. Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda is an intimate portrait of both the artist and the man.
Director Stephen Nomura Schible served as Co-Producer on Sofia Coppola’s Oscar®winning Lost in Translation, and directed/produced the music documentary Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J., which aired on BBC and PBS. Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda marks his directorial feature debut.
RYUICHI SAKAMOTO: CODA (2017, USA/Japan, 102 min) Directed by Stephen Nomura Schible. Produced by Eric Nyari, Yoshiko Hasimoto, Stephen Nomura Schible. Cinematography by Neo Sora, Tom Richmond. Edited by Hisayo Kushida, Yuji Oshige. Associate Producer Jinn Nishimura. Sound Design/Mix by Tom Paul. A production of Cineric, Inc., Borderland Media and Documentary Japan Inc., with Involved TV Channel, NHK, Avrotros. In Japanese and in English. A MUBI release.