Directed by:
Takeshi KitanoScreenplay:
Takeshi KitanoCinematography:
Katsumi YanagijimaComposer:
Yuki KajiuraCast:
Takeshi Kitano, Kanako Higuchi, Kumiko Aso, Masayuki Ibu, 大森南朋, Ren Ōsugi, Susumu Terajima, ふせえり, Bobby Ologun, Natsumi Seto, 筒井真理子, Eri Tokunaga, Takeshi Obayashi (more)Plots(1)
Kitano Takeshi's newest film takes its title from a famous paradox by the pre-Socratic philosopher Zeno, which claimed that motion, time and change are nothing but illusions. Achilles and the Tortoise tackles the idea that art is a chimera, and follows the absurd, star-crossed life of Machisu, an artist with no talent. (...) Sophisticated and original, the film features a rich procession of paintings by Kitano himself. Though designed to represent the failure of an amateur artist, these works are actually quite fascinating. Furnishing an elegant subtext to the film's smooth narrative texture, the pictures write Machisu's emotional history, filling in his many silences. (Viennale)
(more)Cast
![Takeshi Kitano](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/269/269995_1f6f7b.jpg)
Takeshi Kitano
Japan
Best movies:
Kikujiro (1999)
Fireworks (1997)
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)
![Kanako Higuchi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/509/164509586_4e044b.jpg)
Kanako Higuchi
Japan
Best movies:
Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi (1989)
Memories of Tomorrow (2006)
Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World (2004)
![Kumiko Aso](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/032/166032838_f8bbd8.jpg)
Kumiko Aso
Japan
Best movies:
Wolf Children (2012)
The Boy and the Beast (2015)
Romantic Prelude (2009)
![Masayuki Ibu](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/167/330/167330603_487cd2.jpg)
Masayuki Ibu
Japan
Best movies:
Empire of the Sun (1987)
Heaven and Earth (1990)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
![大森南朋](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/343/168343485_vj5tp2.jpg)
大森南朋
Japan
Best movies:
I Just Didn't Do It (2006)
It's Only Talk (2005)
Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World (2004)
![Ren Ōsugi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/272/272793_3fbaf7.jpg)
Ren Ōsugi
Japan
Best movies:
The Twilight Samurai (2002)
By Player (2000)
Fireworks (1997)
![Susumu Terajima](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/910/166910184_778b74.jpg)
Susumu Terajima
Japan
Best movies:
Nobody Knows (2004)
When Marnie Was There (2014)
Fireworks (1997)
![ふせえり](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/393/159393458_8ab1ce.jpg)
ふせえり
Japan
Best movies:
Midnight Sun (2006)
Instant swamp (2009)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
Bobby Ologun
Nigeria
Best movies:
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
![Natsumi Seto](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/604/159604910_ecae77.jpg)
Natsumi Seto
Japan
Best movies:
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
Cold Fish (2010)
Parade (2009)
![筒井真理子](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/011/168011592_kixuh4.jpg)
筒井真理子
Japan
Best movies:
Welcome to the Quiet Room (2007)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
Otakus in Love (2004)
![Eri Tokunaga](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/374/166374741_383113.jpg)
Eri Tokunaga
Japan
Best movies:
Mio on the Shore (2019)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
Hula Girls (2006)
Takeshi Obayashi
Japan
Best movies:
Shogun (1980) (series)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
Godzilla 2000 (1999)
![円城寺あや](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/067/168067052_m6951g.png)
円城寺あや
Japan
Best movies:
I Give My First Love to You (2009)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
We Were Here: Part 2 (2012)
![Yoshiyuki Morishita](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/167/260/167260343_1230c8.jpg)
Yoshiyuki Morishita
Japan
Best movies:
Fireworks (1997)
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)
Heavenly Forest (2006)
Makoto Ohtake
Japan
Best movies:
Brother (2000)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
Otakus in Love (2004)
風祭ゆき
Japan
Best movies:
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
Umi Yamano
Japan
Best movies:
Love Exposure (2008)
I Just Didn't Do It (2006)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
![Takashi Nishina](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/988/163988753_b90524.jpg)
Takashi Nishina
Japan
Best movies:
Brother (2000)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
Blood and Bones (2004)
![Yûrei Yanagi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/235/166235684_782193.jpg)
Yûrei Yanagi
Japan
Best movies:
Fireworks (1997)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
Non-Stop (1996)