‘Tokyo Sonata’: The Curse of a Household Lie
Ryūhei (Teruyuki Kagawa) is the patriarch of a middle class family in Tokyo, consisting of his wife, Megumi (Kyoko Koizumi) and his two sons, the elder Takashi(Yu Koyanagi) and the young Kenji (Inowaki Kai). Ryūhei is a proud worker. He is respected by his peers and bosses alike. He works hard for the life he has. One day on the job, all seems well until he is pulled aside into his boss’s office. A brief conversation later, he returns to his desk, and begins packing his supplies and all he is allowed to carry. He has just been fired from outsourcing. This is the opening scene if Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s tragic melodrama Tokyo Sonata.
This premise is not uncommon in mainstream drama across the world. But what sets this film apart from its contemporaries is a single hook: in order to avoid humiliation from his family, Ryūhei decides too keep his departure a secret. He leaves the house everyday, but rather than work, he waits in line at an unemployment office for hours at a time.
Ryūhei’s lie slowly whittles the stability of his family away. He is unable to reign in on his sons, one of which eventually leaves to join the U.S. military. The other, Kenji, steals what little money remains in order to pay for piano lessons despite being strictly forbidden to do so. Whether for a newfound passion or merely an escape from a crumbling family life, we are left guessing. Megumi, on the otherhand, begins to suspect Ryūhei’s lie. Inconsistencies in his daily stories and spotting him in odd places around the city. Lies from all ends slowly tear the family apart. The poison is set, and we are along for the ride.
What little structure is had is held together by Kenji and his piano skills. We only get glimpses of his talent. We hear no music until the end, but praises from his peers and teachers, and Megumi’s own fascination with Kenji’s pastime are subtle hints of the euphoria we will soon hear.
Despite taking place halfway around the world, Tokyo Sonata is a quiet, patient film that resonates with all to common fears of the American workforce.
Tokyo Sonata (2008) ★★★★½