[psycho d]

Tokyo Sonata (2008). This movie is an exploitation of the mystery of Japanese culture. The story revolves around a rather mundane, middle class family as it comes up against economic tragedy. The result reveals a family that is anything but mundane as the cultural dogma of how one is to behave comes into conflict with common sense and human nature, culminating into chaos, despondency, and a rather comedic subplot that disrupts what might have been a dark spiral into the abyss. The acting was quite solid, with Kyoko's portrayal of the strong and subservient wife a compelling piece of work. The direction by the incredible Kurosawa was wonderful as he moves away from the horrors of chronic lassitude into the horrors of everyday domestic life in Japan. The ending was appropriate and gorgeous. Ashe.