Takeshi Kitano to Receive France’s Legion of Honor
Takeshi Kitano has taken home laurels from film festivals the world over. As of next week, he can lay claim to an even higher honor: France’s Legion of Honor, which the Japanese actor, director and comedian will receive at a ceremony in Paris next week for his contributions to contemporary arts.
Jack Lang, France’s former culture minister, said in a statement that the “Violent Cop,” “Sonatine” and “Outrage” director “comfortably went beyond the limits of art genres and transformed the rules of performing arts, television, film and literature.” Kitano will receive the rank of Officier, the L’ordre National de la Légion d’honneur’s fourth-highest honor.
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“I am very surprised that I will be given such an honor, and I’m simply filled with joy,” said Kitano said in his own statement. He previously won the Golden Lion at the 1997 Venice Film Festival for “Hana-bi” and the People’s Choice Award at the 2003 Toronto Film Festival for “Zatôichi.”
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