When the father is canned at work, an average Tokyo family goes into slo-mo freefall in “Tokyo Sonata,” a quizzical dramedy by Kiyoshi Kurosawa that puts some fresh juice into the waning step of the onetime J-horror specialist. Movie never develops the blackly comic bite of others dissecting the modern Japanese family unit —classically repped by “Family Game” — and would also benefit from 10 to 15 minutes’ worth of trimming. But Kurosawa’s ironic, quietly spacey take on characters in massive self-denial is entertaining enough to attract modest arthouse returns beyond Japan.
When his company outsources its administration department to China, loyal salaryman Ryuhei Sasaki (Teruyuki Kagawa) doesn’t dare tell his family he’s been made redundant and spends his days queueing at a job center and dealing with his professional shame. Meanwhile, at home, wife Megumi (Kyoko Koizumi) goes about her duties with almost military precision, maintaining a facade of family life that only exists around the dinner table, with eldest son Takashi (Yu Koyanagi) and younger Kenji (Kai Inowaki), both equally disconnected from their tightly-wound dad.
Script, developed by Kurosawa and Sachiko Tanaka from an original by Aussie Max Mannix (“Dance of the Dragon”), has some early fun with the father’s attempts to hide his joblessness, in particular his chance meeting with an old friend, Kurosu (Kanji Tsuda), at a free-porridge charity outlet. In a similar quandary as Ryuhei, Kurosu has developed his joblessness into an art form, programming his cell phone to call him at regular intervals and, in a funny sequence when he invites Ryuhei home for dinner, even pretending the two work together in order to fool his wife.
But just like Kurosu’s wife, Megumi is not quite the home-making machine she appears to be. Already going quietly nuts trying to deal with her sons’ alienation and her own treatment by Ryuhei, she spots Ryuhei by chance one day lining up for his free porridge, but keeps the news to herself for the time being.
Kenji, in the meantime, has taken his life into his own hands, using his school-meal money for secret piano lessons (against his father’s wishes) and blossoming into a real talent under his teacher, Kaneko (Haruka Igawa). When all the family’s secrets and lies start to spill out, a chance event sends it unravelling even farther.
Though there’s nothing here that hasn’t been dealt with in other Japanese movies, pic benefits considerably from its pitch-perfect performances — especially Kagawa as the diminutive, wild-eyed paterfamilias, and the graceful Koizumi as the wife in desparate need of companionship. Kurosawa’s skill (seen in his best J-horrors) at suggesting so much more than appears onscreen is a further plus, without going into the mystical realms of his earlier non-horror, “Bright Future.”
Switch of tone in the final act, featuring an extended cameo by Kurosawa’s favorite thesp, Koji Yakusho, is more problematical, mixing broader comedy with a resolution that spells everything out too literally and at unnecessary length.
Technical credits are modest but get the job done, with especially subtle use of the limited space in the family’s home by distaff d.p. Akiko Ashizawa, who shot Kurosawa’s far more visually ornate “Retribution” (2006).
Camera (color), Akiko Ashizawa; editor, Koichi Takahashi; music, Kazumasa Hashimoto; production designers, Tomoyuki Maruo, Tomoe Matsumoto; sound (Dolby SR), Masayuki Iwakura; visual effects supervisor, Shuji Asano; associate producer, Raymond Phathanavirangoon. Reviewed at Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard), May 17, 2008. Running time: 119 MIN.
Release Date: June 22, 2009
Blu-ray Disc, features include:
* HD transfer of the film in its original aspect ratio
* Newly translated optional English subtitles
* Making of Documentary (60 minutes)
* Japanese press junkets, cast and crew interviews, award ceremonies (39 minutes)
* Original UK theatrical trailer
* 28-page booklet containing a brand new essay by writer B. Kite
Region coding and AV specs on the Blu-ray are TBC.
Eureka has also stated they are committed to quality region free releases, and since Mad Detective was region free, I would assume the same for this.
I'm still deciding whether to get it or not. Kairo is in my top 5 films. Cure was pretty good too. Some of his others I've seen like Charisma or even Sakebi didn't really do much for me. This film sounds a little depressing. I'd like to support his work.
I wish they would release Loft personally. It is BS it isn't really available with subs. Other than Malaysia
So glad to see that you got the review up for "Tokyo Sonata," pro-b. It's playing over here in Rhode Island for a week at one of the "hipster" theaters starting today, so I'm hoping to be able to make it out and catch it.
So glad to see that you got the review up for "Tokyo Sonata," pro-b. It's playing over here in Rhode Island for a week at one of the "hipster" theaters starting today, so I'm hoping to be able to make it out and catch it.
CC
And the extras are in NTSC, which means USA TVs can display them.
So glad to see that you got the review up for "Tokyo Sonata," pro-b. It's playing over here in Rhode Island for a week at one of the "hipster" theaters starting today, so I'm hoping to be able to make it out and catch it.
CC
You are very welcome
A beautiful film, rightfully recognized by the Cannes jury.
Have a great weekend.
Quote:
Originally Posted by McCrutchy
And the extras are in NTSC, which means USA TVs can display them.
And the extras are in NTSC, which means USA TVs can display them.
Oh, yes, I know! I love how Masters of Cinema is doing that with their blu-ray releases. I already own "Mad Detective," so I'm looking forward to importing "Tokyo Sonata," as well.
Yeah, like an idiot, I never made it out to the theater to see this when it was playing in town, but I did place my pre-order last night and received my "order has been dispatched" confirmation from Amazon UK this morning. So, hopefully, it won't be too much longer until I finally get to see "Tokyo Sonata."
I screened this last night. Amazing film. It's a different genre of film than I was expecting, but it was interesting to see the director's style employed in a different way. The film has a dream-like quality and the situations are extreme. I thought the acting was phenomenal and the odd way that the three threads played out at the end was thought provoking. I recommend this.
I screened this last night. Amazing film. It's a different genre of film than I was expecting, but it was interesting to see the director's style employed in a different way. The film has a dream-like quality and the situations are extreme. I thought the acting was phenomenal and the odd way that the three threads played out at the end was thought provoking. I recommend this.
Yeah, I saw it at the release and was really surprised; the gentle humour and drama worked well, and the ending was genuinely moving. Had forgotten about the film until your post bumped the thread. Will see about picking up the disc.
I just watched this, and I think the first hour and a half of this movie is great. Then when the criminal/intruder part occurs, it just derails. Also the resolution with the elder teen is not satisfying, almost like he is just written off.
Last edited by adamjankowski; 04-23-2022 at 06:44 PM.
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Tokyo Sonata (Blu-ray)
Linear Mode
