Tôkyô Sonata

You think YOUR family is dysfunctional? Check this one out. Oh, it's in Japanese with subtitles, but one hardly notices. I found myself both disturbed and fascinated by each of these characters.

The father loses his job but chooses to not tell the family or attempt to disturb the routine in any way. Along his new journey he meets other men in similar circumstances.

The oldest son, like many teens his age, just wants out of the family home and an independent life. He eventually ends up in the U.S. Army of all places.

The youngest son, smarter than most kids his age and very able to express himself, wants nothing more than to learn to play the piano. And with good reason, and hence the title.

The mother, perhaps the most complex character of all, tolerates only so much before making her escape. Brace yourself.

And in the end it makes for what must be very interesting dinner table conversation. But, something tells me nobody says a word about the previous 48 hours.

All in all it is a very interesting study of Japanese culture. How realistic it is, I do not know. If YOU know, please enlighten me.

Watch this movie with someone who has lived or worked in Tokyo and see what they say.