We Are X

Zoe and I headed off to Leicester Square to attend a screening of the X Japan documentary We Are X. This was being shown as part of the British Film Institute's London Film Festival.

The even started off with a quick intro from director Stephen Kijack (on the left)

We Are X is a 2016 British documentary film about the Japanese heavy metal band X Japan and its co-founder, drummer, pianist and leader Yoshiki. Directed by Stephen Kijak, it premiered on January 23, 2016 at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. X Japan's story is told through the life of Yoshiki leading up to their performance at Madison Square Garden on October 11, 2014. Tragedy follows the musician and his band; his father committed suicide when he was still a child, his childhood friend and X Japan co-founder and vocalist Toshi was "brainwashed" by a cult leading to the group's breakup in 1997, guitarist hide died five months later, and former bassist Taiji died eleven months after performing with the group for the first time in 18 years.

We Are X is a very emotional film for an X Japan fan like myself. It's full of highs and lows and is an amazing story. I did shed a tear a few teams I have to confess. Even if you know nothing of X Japan it is still a great documentary and I would definitely recommend going to see it if you get a chance.

After the film was a brief Q&A with Stephen Kijak which was sadly way too short but I did manage to ask him a question afterwards.

Here's the trailer to give you an idea of what it was all about: