A Scene at the Sea

 is a 1991 Japanese drama film written, edited and directed by Takeshi Kitano starring Claude Maki.
Plot.
Shigeru, a deaf young man whose job is to collect garbage with a collection vehicle, finds a surfboard with a chipped tip and takes it home. He becomes determined to learn how to swim and invites his friend, who also plans to surf, to the sea.
Production.
This movie was a break from previous Kitano fare in that it features no gangsters or police. However, Kitano did return to darker themes in his next film, "Sonatine", as well as many later works. In the film, Kitano develops his more delicate, romantic side along with his trademark deadpan approach. In 2002, the Japanese filmmaker directed a similar movie, "Dolls", a romantic tale about three pairs of lovers.
This film marks the first collaboration between Kitano and composer Joe Hisaishi, who had previously created the acclaimed soundtracks of many of Hayao Miyazaki's anime films, including "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind". Hisaishi would go on to compose the soundtracks for all of Kitano's films until "Dolls", after which their collaboration ended.
Occasional Office Kitano actor, Claude Maki, who plays the mute main character, went on to appear in Kitano's film "Brother" as Ken, a Japanese-American punk set to become leader of a Yakuza clan. In "Brother", Claude speaks mostly in American-English with some occasional Japanese.
Soundtrack.
The soundtrack CD was originally released on November 25, 1992, by Toshiba EMI; then, re-released many times by Milan Records and Wonderland Records.