17 out of 17 people found the following review helpful:

Tokyo Masterpiece

zorilla from , 5th July, 2009

Closer in look and feel to Yasujiro Ozu's mid 50's quiet masterpieces than his namesake's sweeping epics or even his own more familiar horror/slasher films, Kiyoshi Kurosawa's depiction of a family in crisis has the power to move people all over the world. It's set in Tokyo and is totally Japanese in look and manner, but the story is happening in similar towns, cities and families all over the world - or at least wherever people rely on paternalistic companies to define themselves or American foreign policy to protect themselves. There may be one plot too many stopping this from being the landmark film it wants to be, but don't let that put you off. Invest a couple of hours and you'll be nourished by food for thought for a long time. We are all either suffering or in denial.Tokyo Sonata is proof that the problems, worries, concerns and dark thoughts you have are part of the universal pain we all experience and the only coping mechanism is to reach out and share the pain with friends and family.

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6 out of 6 people found the following review helpful:

loved it!

ihavethatdiscyoucantget from , 17th July, 2009

I really did think about giving this one a bad review, just so that it'd be easier to rent it again in the future :-)

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4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Toyko? Anytown.

A Customer from 2nd row from the back, Lincolnshire, 13th July, 2009

Absorbing. Rounded likeable characters. Fascinating to see effect of China on its near neighbour. Streets scenes straight out of a Ghibli. The Toyko setting adds interest but the story will resonate in any UK city. One small Thelma&Louise-esque section that doesn't quite work. Overall both enjoyable & worthwhile.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Thoroughly depressing... and yet entertaining!

Nootlin from , 21st November, 2009

A perfect story set-up, with each of the four family members each having their own unique story to tell as their lives unravel, spun from a web of lies and deception. Beautifully crafted and painfully realistic, making it easy to find empathy for each character, especially the father who tries to stamp his authority at home, when the rug of his authority at work is whipped out from under him. (I'll be looking for other films starring Teruyuki Kagawa). But this film is thoroughly depressing. It could be set anywhere, and is slightly reminiscent of Brassed Off, but without the humour to lighten the mood. Tokyo or Grimethorpe, we are all affected by the global fiscal fist-f***. How the mother is taken to the brink is ridiculous and unrealistic, and doesn't sit well with the mood of the film - that would be my one negative criticism of the story. It was an attempt to lighten the mood, and I guess without it I would have had a harder time with the film (and introduces the excellent Koji Yakusho), but for me it was too little, too late. On the whole, well worth a watch, so long as you're not already thinking of throwing yourself off a cliff. This film could send you over the edge!

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tokyo sonata

A Customer from Mold, 31st December, 2009

This moves a little too slowly for my liking but it's quite moody and an interesting insight into everyday life in modern Japan.

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