A Broken Drum

The titular 'Broken Drum' of this movie is the father, who is both a successful businessman and tyrannical head of the family which is the subject of this film.

Consisting of Father, Mother, several children in various stages of adolescence and adulthood, and a housekeeper, the family are a happy and colourful group people, each with their own dreams and aspirations, from Shakespeare actress to scientist. These dreams are ultimately quashed by the iron will and stubbornness of their father, who rules over the family the same way he does his ailing construction company, with a raised fist and singular vision for the future.

I found it very easy to relate to all the characters in the movie, the eldest son who has ambition to start his own business but cannot find the courage to confront his father, the mother who has suffered for decades as both wife and homemaker, and even the father, the 'broken drum', who has become the harsh tyrant that he is only because of the strength of will and determination required to be a success in the harsh economical and environmental climates of Northern Japan.

Overall the film was very enjoyable and leads to a satisfying conclusion. Good acting and direction make it pleasant to watch, and also interesting from a cultural point of view as we see the early stages of post war, westernised Japan through the tale of one family.

Tsumasaburô Bandô is a terror to his wife and six children -- and the dog next door barks when he comes home. His construction business is in trouble; he's run out of money for his current project and can't get a loan, so he's marrying his daughter, Toshiko Kobayashi, to the son of a wealthy family, who will invest. She doesn't like him. That's not the only source of his dissatisfaction. His eldest son wants to quit his job as an executive for the company to go into business making music boxes. His second son plays the piano beautifully, but doesn't earn any money. Everyone else has their own version of these problems. Plus the household help keeps quitting.

It's a loud, ugly, but ultimately soft-hearted comedy from Keisuke Kinoshita. Bandô seems to have no interest but business, and roars at any in his family who cross him; the dialogue indicates that offscreen, he beats them. Can a family survive such a harsh father? Is there any way to make him change his mind about anything?

The character portraits as drawn in script and actor are good work, but in the end, it's a little too rambling, there are two many people to keep track of. In the end, they pop in and out, disappear halfway through, and appear out of nowhere. Maybe they shouldn't have had so many kids, and it would have been a better, more focused comedy. Even so, it's an engrossing movie.