Rating of
4/4
Tokyo Story review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 04/09/13
There comes a time when one views a film in the right moment of your life in which you can fully relate to and applicable as well. The powerful lines almost sums up the picture: "Be a good son while your parents are alive." and "Isn't life too short though?" An old couple Shukichi and Tomi Hirayama (played by Chishu Ryu and Chieko Higashiyama) visit youngest daughter Kyoko (Kyoko Kagawa) who is unmarried. Widowed daughter-in-law, Noriko (Setsuko Hara) tends to the couple with delight and fervor. There was an irony within the plot which makes the movie more engaging.
Exceptional screenplay with moving lines: Grandfather - "But we can't expect too much from our children. Times have changed. We have to face it."Grandmother - "I'm glad I lived to this day. The world has changed so." Grandfather - "Your so forgetful." Kyoko - ""Isn't life disappointing?" Mother - "Behave yourself." Themes of aging, old people being sentimental, stubborn kids, a busy parent, memories, regret, death, family, moving on, gratitude and history were delved artistically with realism. The score was gorgeous and locations wonderfully selected. Performances were authentic and direction fluid. No wasted frame or scene was present. It's the kind of picture that can be appreciated by a married couple, families and film aficionados.
