We Are X (2016) on Netflix
R20161h 33mDocumentaryMusic
Yoshiki drums, plays piano and writes for X Japan, the band he started in Tokyo with vocalist Toshi. The documentary follows their rise in Japan and their attempts to reach audiences overseas.
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- Netflix3.9/5
- IMDb7.5/101,124 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes82%
Trailer
Plot summary
The film tells the story of X Japan through Yoshiki, its drummer, pianist, composer and leader. He met vocalist Toshi at the age of four. As a boy he received musical instruments, learned piano and took an interest in classical music. When he was ten his father committed suicide, and his mother gave him a drum kit. He and Toshi moved to Tokyo and formed the band, which led to the visual kei movement of elaborate hair and flamboyant costumes. The film follows his health problems and the band's attempts at success overseas.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about We Are X (2016)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- For the title sequence, the design team filmed floating fluorescent paint in a fish tank with a GoPro camera, and shot the scene of Toshi appearing to stand on top of a waterfall in a kitchen sink with running tap water; the camera rising out of the water was filmed in Greece.
- Director Stephen Kijak used archival footage of David Lynch directing unreleased videos for X Japan's song "Longing" in the film, because Lynch is one of Kijak's biggest influences.
- The film's title comes from X Japan's live call-and-response: during a pause in the band's song "X", a member, usually singer Toshi, yells "We are..." and the audience answers "X!" before the final section.
- The soundtrack album reached number 1 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart and number 27 on the main UK Albums Chart, making it X Japan's first appearance on the UK chart.
