Tokyo Family

This film is a 2013 color re-make of Yasujiro Ozu's 1953 "Tokyo Story," that was voted the #1 film by directors in the 2012 Sight and Sound poll. The plot lines and characters are very similar with some distinct differences; even some lines of dialogue are the same or very similar. The biggest difference is that while Noriko in the 1953 film is the daughter-in-law of the elderly couple, whose son was killed in WWII, Noriko in the 2013 film is the future daughter-in-law engaged to the elderly second couple's son (much more developed in this film, not in a flattering way). In addition, the incomparable Setsuko Hara, known as the Japanese Garbo, played Noriko in the 1953 film and brought to the role a transcendent luminosity of compassion and wisdom. Secondly, while Ozu had a distinct cinematographic style of usually having the camera directly in front of the characters while they spoke, we see this much less frequently in the 2013 film. These are just a few of the differences. Overall, it is an interesting re-make, but Ozu's "Tokyo Story" is still one of the greatest films ever made.

A remake of Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story (1953), which is widely regarded as one of the finest films ever made. Director Yoji Yamada follows the plot of the earlier film closely (though he doesn't borrow Ozu's stylistic touches; thus, this is necessarily a more conventional movie).

There are also changes in some of the characters. The youngest children, Kyoko and Keizo, do not exist in this version. Noriko here is not the widowed wife of their fallen son in the war, but the girlfriend of their son Shoji (who is alive here, and works as a theater decorator). Noriko is played by Yu Aoi, who is pretty and charming, though she lacks the screen charisma Setsuko Hara has in the original version (she is given less screen time, also). Also, I notice that in this version the elder children and the grandchildren are less rude to the elder couple. For instance, the eldest daughter Shige, as played as Tomoko Nakajima, is not as mean and bitchy as Haruko Sugimura was in the original. And the grandfather Shukichi, is less nice here than in the original version. He openly questions his children, especially Shoji, which in the original only did obliquely.

Obviously, this film is not up to the level of the original, but it is a well made, pleasant movie to watch.

Some movies you cant be bothered to follow the plot because its so two dimensional and so badly acted. Some movies you forget the minute you leave the theater. Some leave an impression on you. But then some movies are more than just a good story told, they touch your soul. These moves are experiences you cherish. They have great story that transcend the senses, they are so well acted the characters come to life, you don't see actors acting the part you see people living their lives. These movies are masterfully directed, with great music. The Tokyo Family is such a movie.

I read some of the comments, on this movie, there was one reviewer who said "Almost always when seeing oriental movies....I see the characters almost as if they were from another dimension" My advice to him is don't watch oriental or for that matter foreign movies anymore. This movie is about human feelings and family relations which is universal in human race.

Legendary Japanese filmmaker remakes (or perhaps retells?) one of the most famous Japanese movies of all time, Tokyo Story, approximately 60 years after its release, with a very similar plot but a very different modern day setting. It does, in a way, highlight how timeless the themes are surrounding getting old and what happens when a family starts to reject or ignore its eldest members that were already well explored by the original classic.

It's arguably not a necessary remake because of how well the first still holds up, but Yamada shoots it well, as always, and gets naturalistic, compelling performances out of his fairly large cast. Hitting the same beats as the first and having similar strengths and a very comparable slow pace does make watching this feel more than a little familiar at times, even if it's been years and years since you've seen the original (like my personal experience).

Yamada clearly has a lot of love for the original, and it shaped his style and many of his films that he's been making for nearly 60 years now, so maybe it doesn't matter how relevant the audience thinks it is? If he did it for himself, and because he wanted to tribute that original, then he's earned the right to do that, in all honesty.

Thankfully, those choosing to watch will still experience quite a nice film (although it is better to watch the original first, and then maybe check this one out too, if you liked it).

Yamada Yoji has been directing films since 1961, but internationally is best known for his late-career "Samurai Trilogy" (2002 - 2006). There is always a heavy dose of nostalgia in his films and this one is no exception! Director Yoji Yamada delayed principal photography of Tokyo Kazoku, a remake of Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story, from the beginning of April 2011 due to the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and subsequent Fukushima meltdown, which occurred on March 11th 2011... from the beginning nothing was going easy!

Remaking a film like "Tokyo monogotari" (Tokyo Story, 1954), the Ozu film that is repeatedly voted to be the greatest film of all time, was very challenging task. I love the result - re-imagining of the original, with contemporary setting and some differences which could be almost called improvements!

Likeable faces with excellent acting skills, combined with great camera work and interesting cinematography revoking some old Ozu styles. As well as great directing, made this family drama one of the best ones coming from Japan.