Reviews

The most iconic scene is Ramon’s imagined flight to the sea: starting from the window, the camera pans over the ground in sync with his breathing. After soaring past green mountains, it suddenly pauses, gazing up at the blue sky, before eagerly turning towards the beach. The rapid flight followed by serene calmness, as Ramon gazes longingly at the sea, encapsulates why he yearns for death. Incredible.

Joy and indulgence seem forbidden in religious faith, yet the chocolate in the film symbolizes such pleasures. Enjoying these is part of human nature. We don’t need to resist anything; everyone has the right to seek their own beliefs.

Romance is secondary in this film; liberation and redemption are the key themes instead. Bound by themselves, others, religion, or conventions, each townsperson has a story, a problem they couldn't get over. Amanda, the open-minded elderly lady, is my favorite. I admire her belief in self-determination and enjoying life to the fullest.

The director uses gentle and detailed cinematography to depict the subtle and complex emotions and joys and sorrows between characters. The story, though Western in essence, is expressed with the subtle and restrained Eastern style, showing the commonality of emotions across cultures. Those trapped in the vortex of time, unable to let go of the past, must struggle to move on and accept change, much like ourselves.

The film pieces together the mundane details of life. People rebel against tradition because it stifles them. They try to hold onto the past but must keep moving forward. The film’s delicate cinematography quietly narrates complex and elusive emotions.

This is a technical showcase for director Alfonso Cuarón and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. Aside from the ten-minute single take at the end, the car scene at the 27-minute mark is even more remarkable. Using creative ingenuity and meticulous planning, they modified a car and shot the sequence with just one cut, creating a segment so filled with dramatic tension that even experts may struggle to decode the how they shot the scene. It’s a textbook example of masterful cinematography.

Much of the film’s budget was spent on less obvious aspects like background actors and the layered, muted art design, bringing the movie’s world to life. Each scene is filled with tension, with political issues subtly happening in the background, being far more impactful than if they were portrayed outright.

Alfonso Cuarón’s long takes combine technical prowess, narrative function, and directorial style - further enhanced by IMAX 3D - to give the audience a weightless sensation as if drifting in space simply through visuals. It’s a near-perfect technical achievement in Hollywood commercial cinema. The story of a female astronaut’s survival is rooted in reality, and coupled with the standard commercial film plot structure, the film is perfection.

The film’s technical aspects blew me away. The cinematography, sound editing, and mixing are impeccable. The most primal and intense human emotion is fear, particularly fear of the unknown. The vast emptiness of space epitomizes this fear, which made me vulnerable to the Hollywood sentimentalism in the latter part. Alfonso Cuarón uses a minimalist story to draw out primal human emotions.

It’s a film that appears heartwarming but is deeply despairing. The six characters span different life stages, with the little girl representing their past and the old lady their future. These people, living as unknown members of society from birth to death, survive despite being abandoned by society. Their temporary family forms a bond, offering mutual warmth, while their true relatives live in lies, indifferent to them.

This film has Hirokazu Koreeda’s usual family drama style, but the unique family dynamics and added warmth set it apart. Additionally, it incorporates more social commentary, adding depth. The characters radiate warmth, narrating a profoundly touching and tender story with an underlying sadness and cruelty.

I initially thought the film was about love, but it’s actually about the absence of love. The heartwarming cinematography and music is rather deceiving as the story itself is immensely sorrowful. These four children, much like the seeds they pick up from the roadside, are discarded and forgotten, growing hopelessly in the forgotten corners of society.

When the brother buries his sister, the close-up of his trembling hands in the darkness is profoundly moving. These are the hands of a 12-year-old boy, slowly covering his sister's remains with soil. The theme of death evokes deep emotions. Those who truly understand life do not evade death, and true courage is finding strength amidst constant loss. The harshness of reality is highlighted when such resilience appears in these unknown children.

Hirokazu Koreeda excels at burying subplots and character psychology within extensive dialogues and seemingly casual yet meaningful shots. The film provides a serene portrayal of aging, illustrated by falling bathroom tiles, additional handrails, and the increasing reminiscing of the aging parents for their children.

By accumulating details, the film reveals life's essence. This is a nearly perfect Hirokazu Koreeda film. The interplay of warm and cool tones narrates a complex story of familial blood ties, filled with regret and separation, making viewers reflect on their own family relationships.

The film delicately portrays the series of events triggered by a child swap, focusing on the different family environments and Masaharu Fukuyama's character's psychological growth. It presents an unsolvable dilemma, a problem with no correct answer, compelling viewers to experience and ponder alongside the characters, ultimately marveling at life's absurdity.

This is a journey of learning to be a father. I couldn't view it objectively—blood ties and familial love are such tangled matters. Despite the melodramatic topic, Hirokazu Koreeda's gentle pacing and empty shots evoke profound insights. The film is filled with touching details, emphasizing how bonds formed through daily interactions are hard to sever.

The director's genius is undeniable. This film has inspired many Hollywood directors. After Mima's descent into hysteria, she repeatedly wakes from layers of dreams. I found myself abandoning all logic and rationality, diving with her into the abyss. Despite the abrupt ending that doesn't resolve all doubts, the film excels in creating confusion and deep-seated fears.

Through contradictory details, the director keeps the narrative style open. Every part of the film—beginning, middle, and end—remains open-ended. Viewers can freely interpret the hints and details, leading to various conclusions.

“Tokyo Godfathers” uses a humorous tone to depict the sorrowful world, evoking deep emotional responses from the audience. Throughout their journey, each character confronts and resolves their deepest pains. The seemingly coincidental life trajectory reveals its true power, showing how anyone can become a godfather of redemption for themselves or others.