Takeshi Kitano receives France’s highest cultural honor

On Tuesday, director Takeshi Kitano (63) was in Paris to receive the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, France’s highest honor for arts and culture. The award was presented to him by Frédéric Mitterrand, the country’s Minister of Culture and Communication, at the Fondation Cartier art museum.

Kitano is active as an actor, comedian, television personality, and many other things, but he is perhaps best known internationally as a filmmaker. He debuted in 1989 with “Violent Cop” (“Sono Otoko, Kyobo ni Tsuki”) and went on to direct other critically acclaimed films such as “HANA-BI” in 1997 and “Zatoichi” in 2003.

A selection of Kitano’s films will be screened at the Fondation Cartier museum from March 11 to June 21. The retrospective is part of a larger exhibition by Kitano, titled “Gosse de peintre,” which will feature his artwork and other creations. The “Gosse de peintre” exhibition will run from March 11 to September 12.

In 1999, Kitano was conferred the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters, the lowest of the three ranks in the Order. Commander is the highest rank.

Source:
Sankei Sports