Legendary Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away from cancer last year at the age of 71, bids farewell to fans in a posthumously released concert film, "Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus," created by his son, filmmaker Neo Sora. The film opens in China on May 31.

A still image from "Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus" shows the maestro playing his composition on the piano. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

At the film's premiere in Beijing on May 27, the atmosphere was somber, with some fans expressing their reluctance to enter the theater, fearing they would be overwhelmed with emotion.

In a pre-recorded video shown after the advanced screening, a visibly frail Sakamoto explained to the Beijing audience that his physical condition had deteriorated significantly since his cancer diagnosis in June 2020, making it difficult for him to perform live concerts lasting more than an hour. As a result, he decided to record performances individually and later combine them into a concert film.

Sakamoto's 33-year-old son, Neo Sora, brought the project to life at the request of his mother and Sakamoto's long-time manager, Norika. Sora put the pre-production of his own debut feature on hold to complete the film, creating a lasting tribute to one of the world's most influential and celebrated musicians.

"Though Ryuichi Sakamoto's physical condition was deteriorating during the filming, he used all of his energy to bring you all this concert film," Sora said via video link at the premiere, addressing an audience moved to tears.

"Opus" transcends the boundaries of a traditional documentary, blending 20 tracks from Sakamoto's diverse repertoire into a mesmerizing concert film. Shot over a brief week in September 2022 at NHK Broadcasting Center's 509 Studio in Tokyo, the film offers an intimate glimpse of Sakamoto performing on a grand piano amidst serene surroundings. With crisp black-and-white visuals, this tribute showcases the strength and versatility of his solo piano compositions.

Sakamoto, born in 1952, was known for his diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), a group that significantly influenced and pioneered various electronic music genres. His film scores earned him prestigious awards, including an Oscar for "The Last Emperor" (1987). Other notable works include "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" (1983) and "The Revenant" (2015).

British film producer Jeremy Thomas, who produced Bernardo Bertolucci's Academy Award-winning "The Last Emperor," also engaged with the audience at the premiere, reminiscing about the musician. Thomas recalled meeting Ryuichi Sakamoto while working on the epic biographical drama about the life of Puyi, the final Emperor of China's Qing dynasty, for which Sakamoto served as both an actor and score composer. Thomas shared that he had many beautiful memories of their time in China, where they worked closely together and later developed a friendship.

"We all miss him, but his music will live on in this final performance in 'Opus.' It truly is a gift for everybody," Thomas said, referring to the film as a "double happiness" for him. "I believe that the audiences in China will appreciate it because I know that China has an incredible relationship with pianos and pianists, and here is one of the best. I hope that many people will now see this and discover the incredible music of Ryuichi Sakamoto, the great man we all tragically lost."

In his pre-recorded video, Ryuichi Sakamoto injected a light tone into the otherwise heavy farewell film, saying, "I hope you enjoy this film as if you were attending a normal concert. Let's enjoy!"

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