Athlone Film Club presents Tokyo Sonata (Japan/Netherlands, 2008 ) the Cannes award-winning film on Tuesday October 27 at 8pm in the Dean Crowe Theatre and Arts Centre, Athlone. Tokyo Sonata, a poignant social satire directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, offers cinematic audiences a unique perspective on the universal subjects of family and survival.
Retaining the same masterful control over mood and atmosphere that he has displayed throughout his career, Kurosawa infuses this family drama with an underlying tension that permeates the film even during its more humorous moments. A skilful and continually surprising drama, Tokyo Sonata depicts the gradual deterioration of an ordinary Japanese family after its breadwinner loses his job owing to corporate downsizing.
Unable to break the news to his devoted wife, he dresses up every morning and pretends to go to work, instead wasting the days away with a former classmate who is also unemployed. Although they aren't aware of his contradictory behaviour, his family begins to disobey him nonetheless. His teenage son enlists in the army in order to fight for the United States, while his adolescent son goes behind his back to take piano lessons. The longer his charade goes on, the less control he has as patriarch, creating an even deeper divide between him and his family. Kurosawa effectively depicts the present world financial crisis with his microcosmic analysis of the Sasaki family.
With Tokyo Sonata, Kurosawa has produced one of his most original and accomplished works. Equal parts social commentary and situational comedy, Kurosawa's film also feels like a thriller, thanks to the exceptionally atmospheric work from cinematographer Akiko Ashizawa and composer Kazumasa Hashimoto. In fact Kurosawa is the rare director who simply lets his film dissolve into music, allowing the plot to take the film naturally to a musical conclusion.
Doors open at 7.30pm with a pre-screening complimentary wine reception in the theatre bar. The film starts at 8pm. Temporary membership for the night is only €7.
For more information email [email protected] or check out www.athlonefilmclub.com
