Every family has its secrets|Sep. 27, 2008|Japan | Netherlands | Hong Kong|120 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Drama;Fantasy;Kids;Mystery;Romance
Description: Tokyo Sonata is a 2008 Japanese film that follows the story of a middle-class family in Tokyo, the Sasakis, comprised of Ryūhei Sasaki, his wife Megumi, and their two sons, Takashi and Kenji. Ryūhei loses his stable office job as companies opt for cheaper Chinese labor. Struggling to find new employment, he crosses paths with an old classmate, Kurosu, who is also unemployed. Kurosu’s trick of using his mobile phone to mimic a ringtone to appear busy inspires Ryūhei to hide his job loss from his family. Meanwhile, Kurosu’s wife begins to suspect his unemployment, and tragedy strikes when Kurosu and his wife die in a double suicide.
Takashi, the elder son, decides to enlist in the U.S. military and is sent to the Middle East. Kenji, the younger son, dreams of learning to play the piano, despite his father’s disapproval. He secretly takes lessons using his lunch money and forms a strong bond with his piano teacher, Miss Kaneko, who encourages his musical aspirations. When Kenji’s parents discover his secret, Megumi supports him, but Ryūhei’s anger leads to a violent confrontation that leaves Kenji with a minor concussion.
Later, Megumi is taken hostage by an unemployed man who breaks into their home. After being forced to drive the intruder’s stolen car, she is given a chance to escape but instead chooses to return to her captor after spotting Ryūhei working a hidden job as a janitor, realizing she cannot face returning home. The film explores themes of family, unemployment, and personal identity amidst societal pressures.
Cast director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cast actor: Teruyuki Kagawa, Kyoko Koizumi, Kai Inowaki, Yū Koyanagi, Haruka Igawa, Kanji Tsuda, Kazuya Kojima, Koji Yakusho, Takashi Kodama, Hajime Inoue
Original name: トウキョウソナタ