Tokyo Sonata (2008, Japan)
The Sasaki family should just be like any other ordinary, traditional Japanese working class family. But throw in an economic downturn and life gets thrown a curve ball. Traditionally, a Japanese salaryman works for a company his whole life, and has that job stability. That's what tradition-minded Ryuhei Sasaki expected, but in the new economy he finds himself out of the job and doesn't have the first clue about how to cope with it and gets whisked down the unforgiving current of life, along with others in the same position to their individual, sometimes unfortunate, fates.
Japan is facing challenges, or has been facing challenges that are changing the way it looks at itself and its economic success it has enjoyed during the past half century. I think this film is ultimately addressing those things. Traditional roles of authority are challenged and the independence of Japan's youth is where Japan's future may lie. Things have to change and risks need to be taken if Japan is to have any chance to maintain economic status in the world.
It needs to internationalize and trust in its own non-conforming talents of its youth to forge the way, rather than rely on vain, old school, no-longer-tried-and-true traditions, which only lead to a slowly sinking ship. It needs to start over. Families unravel, but the Japanese people are resilient and will find a way to pull things together, or so this film seems to say. And the family is still the core value that Japanese society can lean on. And there are no easy ways out. Seriously, a lot is being said in this film. And ironically, the end of the film is extremely typical "Japanese".
This is an excellent, well put together film, excellently directed and acted – pretty much what I'd expect from a good Japanese film. I loved the subtle level of allegory that director Kiyoshi Kurosawa infuses into it. And I do recommend it for fans of Japanese film and culture, however, it is a bit grim about reality. I might not recommend it for people who aren't fans of international film. I give it a fresh 8 out of 10 tomatoes because I can't in good conscience give it any lower.
天黑 End of the Tunnel‧夏午 Summer Afternoon‧闔家觀賞 Family Viewing (2008, Taiwan)
This is a bit of a useless review, as I doubt anyone would come across this DVD, much less consider renting it. It consists of three short films, none of which I thought were any good. Rotten, but how rotten is rotten? The rotten scale is 0 to 5 tomatoes, but isn't rotten just rotten? These shorts were a complete waste of time, with perhaps some redeeming aspects, so not a total panning. 3 out 10 tomatoes. Pretty bad, not recommended. Whatever.
The first film (37 minutes) is about a blind piano player who meets a sympathetic soul after being touched after hearing him play. This short was pointless and frankly quite boring, and for a short, it was way too long. Each scene is dragged out with no benefit to the film or mood, and probably could have been cut down to 20 minutes.
The second film (16 minutes) is about a drive through the mountains gone wrong. Who acts like that? Were these people raised in a barn? It strains credibility and the attempt at a twist is sophomoric if not insulting.
The third film (29 minutes) is about a family chosen to be filmed for a French reality show, but things aren't as they seem. This is probably the most well-developed and shot of the three, but that's not saying much. The underlying premise, which is what's reaching for its emotional climax, is actually appalling and in unspeakably bad taste.
I was fooled into renting this because of the quality of the talent. There are some high level Taiwanese actresses in this film, including the delicious Sandrine Pinna, who I adored in other films including Miao Miao and Candy Rain, so if the projects could attract such talent, how bad could it be? No explanation, but they may be considered part of the few redeeming aspects of the films. They can deliver.
Recommended for anyone who wants to see how bad is bad, but unfortunately not in a funny way.
