We Are X by Stephen Kijak (2016)
In the annals of rock n’ roll history, X Japan arguably has one of the more bittersweet stories. One of Japan’s most successful bands and pioneers of the “visual kei” movement — think American hair metal turned up to 11, and then some — X Japan’s story includes suicides, health issues, and even cult brainwashing amidst massive amounts of success. Stephen Kijak’s We Are X captures all of that, with frontman Yoshiki baring his soul as he talks about his father’s suicide, his grief, and his struggles with chronic pain and poor health (we see him getting medical injections so he can play as well as him collapsing on stage from playing drums) even as X Japan prepares to play Madison Square Garden. It’s a fascinating story that’s deeply affecting at times. Unfortunately, the film’s narrative does occasionally meander as it jumps back and forth in the band’s history. Thus, some parts of their story — like Yoshiki’s reunion with his friend and singer Toshi after the latter leaves a cult — lose some of the impact they might’ve had otherwise. Still, We Are X is a cool glimpse into a rock n’ roll world that most non-Japanese folks probably know nothing about.
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