Rent Tokyo! (2008)

Lost In Quirky Tokyo - Tokyo! review by CP Customer

I’ve always enjoyed short films and novellas partially because there is no excess, every inclusion should develop the story and not outstay its welcome. In Tokyo! You have three reasonably sized snapshots, each taking the city as its inspiration for a tale. The first from Gondry focuses on a naïve couple trying to move to the metropolis and find a place to live. Charming, inventive and memorable, it’s everything we have come to expect from the director. The second is more offbeat, an outcast dwelling below the city; we follow him on escapades above. This tale is a theme of war, media and recognising past infractions. Sadly it’s the weakest of the bunch. The concluding story deals with a loner in the city, who dislikes personal contact. A freak event forces him to aid his regular pizza delivery girl. A tale about isolation and human emotions, this feels ideally slotted into the Tokyo we have heard about, but never experienced in the flesh. Overall a reasonable standard, with Gondry’s being the best of the bunch.