- Note: Blu-ray discs are in a high definition format and need to be played on a Blu-ray player. To find out more about Blu-ray, visit our Hi-Def Learn & Shop store.
- Important Information on Firmware Updates: Having trouble with your Blu-ray disc player? Will certain discs just not play? You may need to update the firmware inside your player. Click here to learn more.
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Product Description
SYNOPSIS: Kiyoshi Kurosawa the hugely acclaimed Japanese director famous for his groundbreaking, existential horror films such as Cure and Kairo [Pulse] set Cannes alight in 2008 with this highly topical film: an eerie, poignant reflection on the mass uncertainty sweeping the world.
When Ryuhei Sasaki (played by Teruyuki Kagawa) is unceremoniously dumped from his safe company job, his family's happy, humdrum life is put at risk. Unwilling to accept the shame of unemployment, the loyal salaryman decides not to tell anyone, instead leaving home each morning in suit and tie with briefcase, spending his days searching for work and lining up for soup with the homeless. Outstanding performances; serene, elegant direction; and Kurosawa's trademark chills are evident as he ratchets up the unsettling atmosphere and the grim hopelessness of Sasaki's unemployment.
Widely regarded as his finest achievement, The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Kurosawa s winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes in 2008, in a Dual Format Edition (DVD & Blu-ray)
SPECIAL DUAL FORMAT EDITION:
When Ryuhei Sasaki (played by Teruyuki Kagawa) is unceremoniously dumped from his safe company job, his family's happy, humdrum life is put at risk. Unwilling to accept the shame of unemployment, the loyal salaryman decides not to tell anyone, instead leaving home each morning in suit and tie with briefcase, spending his days searching for work and lining up for soup with the homeless. Outstanding performances; serene, elegant direction; and Kurosawa's trademark chills are evident as he ratchets up the unsettling atmosphere and the grim hopelessness of Sasaki's unemployment.
Widely regarded as his finest achievement, The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Kurosawa s winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes in 2008, in a Dual Format Edition (DVD & Blu-ray)
SPECIAL DUAL FORMAT EDITION:
- Gorgeous 1080p Blu-ray transfer in the original aspect ratio
- Making Of documentary [61:00]
- Q&A, Tokyo, September 2008 [12:00]
- Première footage, Tokyo, September 2008 [15:00]
- DVD discussion [9:00] UK trailer [3:00]
- 28-page colour booklet with a new essay by B. Kite
Product Description
United Kingdom released, Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C DVD: LANGUAGES: Japanese ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Japanese ( Dolby DTS-HD Master Audio ), Japanese ( Dolby TrueHD ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Booklet, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Documentary, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Kiyoshi Kurosawa - the hugely acclaimed Japanese director famous for his groundbreaking, existential horror films such as Cure and Kairo (Pulse) - set Cannes alight in 2008 with this highly topical film: an eerie, poignant reflection on the mass uncertainty sweeping the world. When Ryuhei Sasaki (played by Teruyuki Kagawa) is unceremoniously dumped from his 'safe' company job, his family's happy, humdrum life is put at risk. Unwilling to accept the shame of unemployment, the loyal salaryman decides not to tell anyone, instead leaving home each morning in suit and tie with briefcase, spending his days searching for work and lining up for soup with the homeless. Outstanding performances; serene, elegant direction; and Kurosawa's trademark chills are evident as he ratchets up the unsettling atmosphere and the grim hopelessness of Sasaki's unemployment. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Cannes Film Festival, ...Tokyo Sonata (DVD & Blu-Ray) ( Tôkyô sonata ) (Blu-Ray)
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am buying this because I saw it at the cinema a few months ago, and haven't been able to get it out of my head since. I've seen other films by this director, who until now specialized in suspenseful, eerie "horror" films (although they were more unsettling really). This film has some of the same atmosphere of oppression, as the main character loses his job, and with it, his hope and his semblance of a normal life. The parody of a life that he leads to try to pretend everything is ok, has moments of wonderful humour amidst the oppressive hopelessness, especially when he meets someone else in the same situation.
Slowly, Ryuhei's life and those of his family unravel and reach breaking point. And around them, others in a similar position give up and succumb to fate. But throughout the rather depressing main plot, it is the little things that offer relief - moments of humour, a tiny bit of hope, and piano lessons. Somehow, the characters carry on. And then, things take a bizarre twist, when a similarly hopeless thief turns up.
This reminds me of the director's earlier film "Kourei", which, whilst being a ghost story, somehow spends more time reflecting on the relationship of a quiet middle-aged couple, as they come to accept that the dreams of their youth will never now come true. In this film, the couple are the central figures, who must both separately go off and find themselves by undertaking a journey that takes them far beyond their normal life. And the director draws the film to a close with the youngest son playing the piano, we are finally able to hear him for ourselves, and it seems to underline the conclusion to the film.
I highly recommend this film. But it is very understated, there is very little high drama, and all the tension is under the surface, in a way that is very Japanese.
Slowly, Ryuhei's life and those of his family unravel and reach breaking point. And around them, others in a similar position give up and succumb to fate. But throughout the rather depressing main plot, it is the little things that offer relief - moments of humour, a tiny bit of hope, and piano lessons. Somehow, the characters carry on. And then, things take a bizarre twist, when a similarly hopeless thief turns up.
This reminds me of the director's earlier film "Kourei", which, whilst being a ghost story, somehow spends more time reflecting on the relationship of a quiet middle-aged couple, as they come to accept that the dreams of their youth will never now come true. In this film, the couple are the central figures, who must both separately go off and find themselves by undertaking a journey that takes them far beyond their normal life. And the director draws the film to a close with the youngest son playing the piano, we are finally able to hear him for ourselves, and it seems to underline the conclusion to the film.
I highly recommend this film. But it is very understated, there is very little high drama, and all the tension is under the surface, in a way that is very Japanese.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
After losing his job as admin director for a large corporation, Ryûhei realises that he's not likely to get a similar job, and certainly not one with the same salary. It seems that the city is full of unemployed suited types desperately trying to give the impression that they are succesfully in work in an attempt to maintain dignity. As Ryûhei walks the streets and queues up for food hand-outs the the film brings us subtle scenes of dark humour, wherever he kills time in the city there are plenty of other jobless well dressed men milling about.
He meets an old friend in a similar situation, he provides something of a masterclass in how to convince those around you, including family, that you're still in work. For all the humour in his eccentric habits it is he who eventually provides the most sobering reminder of the stress caused by unemployment. It's clear that the unemployed men in the film are suffering from a lack of self confidence, they simply can't face up to the fact that they can't provide for their families on the level they have become accustomed to.
Ryûhei's family are seemingly unaware of his situation and between scenes of watching him killing time we get to experience snippets from their lives. Each of their stories are just as interesting as the father's and are initially charming moments which become more involved.
When you start to think that the mother of the house is being somewhat overlooked by the film she then gets to steal the final scenes. Her devotion to the family and the way she represents the true strength underpinning the web of relationships in the house is clarified in a tense and dramatic series of events, we also see her not just as a mum and wife - but as a woman with her own aspirations, dreams and regrets.
Kiyoshi Kurosawa is known for writing/directing horror films, and his background appears to have helped him get across the anxieties of the characters involved in Tokyo Sonata and build tension. The begins starts with a beautifully crafted look into an underworld of the socially disenfranchised and is full of well observed and understated comic moments which also capture the sadness of their plight. Although this does continue throughout the film it's never as strong as or as cleverly done as it is at the start and the film dips at times. Thankfully the human story behind the family are strong and compell you to watch and see what happens to them.
In a nutshell: A quirky film which balances despondency, humour, and kitchen sink drama.
He meets an old friend in a similar situation, he provides something of a masterclass in how to convince those around you, including family, that you're still in work. For all the humour in his eccentric habits it is he who eventually provides the most sobering reminder of the stress caused by unemployment. It's clear that the unemployed men in the film are suffering from a lack of self confidence, they simply can't face up to the fact that they can't provide for their families on the level they have become accustomed to.
Ryûhei's family are seemingly unaware of his situation and between scenes of watching him killing time we get to experience snippets from their lives. Each of their stories are just as interesting as the father's and are initially charming moments which become more involved.
When you start to think that the mother of the house is being somewhat overlooked by the film she then gets to steal the final scenes. Her devotion to the family and the way she represents the true strength underpinning the web of relationships in the house is clarified in a tense and dramatic series of events, we also see her not just as a mum and wife - but as a woman with her own aspirations, dreams and regrets.
Kiyoshi Kurosawa is known for writing/directing horror films, and his background appears to have helped him get across the anxieties of the characters involved in Tokyo Sonata and build tension. The begins starts with a beautifully crafted look into an underworld of the socially disenfranchised and is full of well observed and understated comic moments which also capture the sadness of their plight. Although this does continue throughout the film it's never as strong as or as cleverly done as it is at the start and the film dips at times. Thankfully the human story behind the family are strong and compell you to watch and see what happens to them.
In a nutshell: A quirky film which balances despondency, humour, and kitchen sink drama.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you want a brlliant two hour long study of modern-day urban life in Japan, look no further. You need to be patient with this one, but the tension mounts slow but sure. Really a memorable film that I would recommend to any intelligent viewer with a dark sense of humour. The essence of the story will stay with you for some time.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lacks magic & squanders potential
Call me shallow, but the exclusive presentation of Tokyo Sonata led to its purchase for me; literally judged it by cover art & marketing blurb. Read more
Published 17 days ago by D. Lindsay
beautifully grim expose of 21st century life
'' How wonderful it would be if my whole life so far turns out to have been a dream and suddenly I wake up and I'm someone else entirely.'' .... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Peter
Tokyo Sonata
`Tokyo Sonata' is a very understated, yet strangely moving film.
It is gentle and slightly sad and follows a Japanese family, which includes an undervalued wife, a... Read more
It is gentle and slightly sad and follows a Japanese family, which includes an undervalued wife, a... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Spider Monkey
Excellent film!
Excellent film. I just wanted to add a 5 star rating, the others have said it all.
Published 18 months ago by Mrs. A. M. J. Wigmore
Very enjoyable
If I hadn't known this was a Kiyoshi Kurosawa film I don't think I would have guessed it.
Very enjoyable and it reflects the situation which many people unfortunately... Read more
Very enjoyable and it reflects the situation which many people unfortunately... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Dorikin2010
A slowly sinking ship
A film of such excellence that it is hard to put it into words.That if you do it will be erased.This is the
film as a form of music,using discordant layers and unsettling... Read more
film as a form of music,using discordant layers and unsettling... Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2009 by technoguy
Slow-moving but beautiful film
I am buying this because I saw it at the cinema a few months ago, and haven't been able to get it out of my head since. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2009 by Ruth Ludlam
Good film worth watchng
This is a nice film, full of interesting observations, and a very strange change in direction half way through (but in a good way). Read more
Published on 11 July 2009 by J. Myers
A Wonderful Movie!
Kiyoshi Kurosawa has succeeded as did Chaplin some seventy odd years earlier with Modern Times and De Sica with Bicycle Thieves some time later. Read more
Published on 5 July 2009 by A. CHIASSON
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
