Rent Tokyo Sonata (2008)

So Good And Relevant - Tokyo Sonata review by CP Customer

After hiring the DVD I felt obliged to go out and purchase the Blu Ray for this film, its that good. Foreign cinema enthusiasts may not have come across the work of Kurosawa previously, despite having released thirteen films before Tokyo Sonata. Those efforts have been confirmed to the Japanese horror genre, with films as varied as Kairo (Pulse) to Retribution (Sakebi), providing him with a well earned reputation as J-horror master. Tokyo Sonata is as such his debut outside of J-horror, which makes it even more remarkable. The picture quality is excellent and seems extremely fresh lacking any artefacts or grain. This clean cut characteristic goes well with the urban settings utilised by Kurosawa, harbouring a wide range of grey, black and white with flashes of colour. The ending is especially poignant, an emotional wrench that really hit home more than I'd really like to admit to in public.

Two different films in one. - Tokyo Sonata review by 'Clx2'

I quite enjoyed the first half of this film. However, just over halfway through, there are some utterly bizarre twists in the plotline, which makes it feel like you've strayed into a completely different film altogether. It seems like the writer couldn't work how to finish the plot within the confines that had already been set up, so veers off in a totally different direction. All in all, a very odd film.

A cracking little gem! - Tokyo Sonata review by Colin Taylor

A cracking little gem of a film and well worth watching. Not only does the life of the unemployed man inevitably fall to pieces, but all of those around him too because of his actions. Suburban life is shown as limiting and claustrophobic, dehumanising and demoralising those who live within it( interesting though to see a depiction of grubby backstreet Tokyo ).

The film is about making good choices to escape life's pressures, and finding your own way. And if that sounds naff, it isn't; in the hands of Hollywood this script/film would be nigh on unwatchable, but in Kurosawa's hands its a moving and beautiful redemptive tale!