Brother Blu-ray

The British Film Institute has provided final details for its upcoming Blu-ray release of Takeshi Kitano's Brother (2000), starring Takeshi Kitano, Tatyana Ali, Omar Epps, Noel Gugliemi, and Ryo Ishibashi. The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on April 21.

Official description: Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano directs and stars in this brutal crime thriller about a Japanese yakuza forced to flee to Los Angeles after the death of his boss.

In the wake of a failed gang war, Yamamoto 'Aniki' (Kitano) arrives in Los Angeles with nothing but a new name and a bag of cash. Re-uniting with his younger brother, he uses his extensive experience as a hardened gangster, to grow a small-time drug operation into a far-reaching criminal brotherhood, attracting the attention of rival gangs with bloodthirsty consequences.

Widely considered to be Japan's most important and influential director since Akira Kurosawa, Brother marks Takeshi Kitano's English language debut.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• High-definition transfer
• The Green Flash (1988, 23 mins): Adam Davis's short film about an encounter between a homeless orphan and an injured gangster, featuring a young Omar Epps in his first screen role
• Scenes by the Sea: The Life and Cinema of 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano (2000, 48 mins): documentary profile of the Japanese actor and director, Takeshi Kitano. Featuring interviews with many of his regular contributors and colleagues
• Featurette (2000, 2 mins): behind the scenes footage and on-set interviews
• Cast and crew interviews (2000, 15 mins): with director/actor Takeshi Kitano, producers Masayuki Mori and Jeremy Thomas, and actor Omar Epps
• Behind the scenes footage (2000, 4 mins): on-set footage of Kitano at work with his crew
• First pressing only: Illustrated booklet featuring new essays by Jennifer Coates, Adam Bingham and James-Masaki Ryan, an archival interview with Takeshi Kitano by Tony Rayns and writing on The Green Flash by its director Adam Davis