TOKYO SONATA
Japan, 2008, 119 minutes, Colour.
Teruyuki Kagawa, Kyoko Koizumi.
Directed by Kiosha Kurosawa.
When this film premiered in early 2008, it was topical. When it received commercial release in early 2009, it was alarmingly more topical. The theme: unemployment and the consequences for damaging a family.
No, it is not a musical. Perhaps the use of 'sonata' in the title is a bit misleading – although there is a pleasing performance of Debussy's Clair de Lune at the end. But, it is the unemployment which is the key to the film.
In Japan, company loyalty is a major virtue, so it is a strong shock when the protagonist of the film is unceremoniously 'let go' because of outsourcing management to China. As with the men familiar from The Full Monty, the humiliation is profound and they cannot bring themselves to tell the truth to their wives and children. Off they go every day as if to work, lining up at employment offices, lining up for free charity meals, sitting in parks... It takes its toll in many ways, especially depression which could be suicidal, and anger in projecting their problems on to their children.
In this case, the portraits of the wife and children are important. The older son wants to enlist in the American forces even if it means fighting in Iraq. The younger son discovers a desire and talent for playing the piano (memories of Billy Elliot's situation). Their father is vehemently opposed to both boys. The mother has to acquiesce in her husband's authority but finally has to take a mediating and supportive role for her children.
This might seem familiar material but director, Kurosawa, who excelled in recent years in symbolic horror stories (The Cure, Pulse), takes his audience right into the heart of the family and its problems with seriousness, humour and some sympathy. Forty five minutes before the end, the film changes tone, becomes more surreal. The mother has dreams of her son returning from Iraq overwhelmed by the killings. The young son wants to run away from home. The mother endures a violent episode which has both traumatic and healing effects on her. The husband is literally bowled over and has to face his humiliation and the reality of his situation.
Since the style of photography and editing changes from the realism we had become used to, we share the disturbances, physical and emotional, for the family.
There will be more films about unemployment and family disintegration given the world financial crisis. This film has a role in alerting audiences to the human cost of economic downturns and uncertainties
1.A topical Japanese film? For universal audiences? The globalisation crises, outsourcing of work, downsizing of staff, growing unemployment, the hardships of unemployment, the consequences for the individual and for family?
2.The work of the director, his interest in horror film? Realism but the change in the final part – with the touch of his former styles? The significance of the time-jumps – leaping over significant events and letting the audience supply the response?
3.Tokyo, the city, modern, offices and glass? The contrast with homes? The streets, the quiet suburbs, the shops, the supermarket and mall, the soup kitchens? The contrasts? The musical score?
4.The title, sonata as a metaphor for the family life, the boy and his ability at music, the final performance – and the film pausing, taking a more positive tone?
5.Ryuhei and his personality, his work, at the office, his fellow workers, his being praised, the authorities, Japanese loyalty to the company? Thorough, the information about China and outsourcing, the meetings? His being fired – and the manner? The contrast with the employees’ loyalty?
6.The portrait of his family, his wife and her concerns at home, his older son and his offhand behaviour, away from home? The younger boy at school, in his room, music, an introverted boy?
7.Ryuhei and his inability to tell his family about his situation? Dressing and going to work each day? Going to the job centres? Not being able to have an equivalent job as the past? His accepting various jobs, as a cleaner? His need for food, hunger, spending his time away from home, going for handouts? The end of the day, irritable, money issues and his wife wanting to keep the accounts? His being a puzzle to his family?
8.The chance meeting with his friend, their talk, the friend and the mobile phone – revealed as a device to impress people? The meals, sharing discussions, their fate, memories of the past, both pretending to their wives? The husbands and wives meeting for a meal? The friend’s wife and her knowing what was happening? The effect on Ryuhei? The double suicide?
9.The older boy, away from home, his decision to join the army, the US forces in Iraq, the place of Japanese soldiers? His being transformed, physically, haircut, uniform? His father angry with him and refusing to sign the documents? His going nonetheless, the training? Not writing letters, his return, the shock impact of Iraq and of killing people?
10.Kenji, at school, his love for music, the encounter with the teacher, pretending to play in his room? The discussions about his lessons, the teacher and her offer, his abilities, his money and his father’s refusal for lessons? His taking the family money, paying the teacher? His father angry and confronting the teacher?
11.The teacher, her own life, her problems, relationships, Kenji listening?
12.Megumi, her seeing her husband at the mall, going home, the encounter with the intruder, her being abducted, hidden away, the sexual encounter?
13.The change in tone in the film before the end – use of time, the change of visual style, the touches of horror and terror?
14.Ryuhei as a cleaner, at the mall, fellow workers? Discovering the envelope with the money? His passing his wife and not acknowledging her? In the streets, the violence, the consequences of the money?
15.Kenji, his disappointment with his father, getting on the bus and running away, his being found by the police, the night in the cell?
16.Each of the characters arriving home, not saying anything to one another, the shared breakfast? As if everything was normal?
17.The parents going to the recital, Kenji and his performance, Debussy and the beauty of the music? A calming tone for the audience? A touch of optimism and hope at the end?
