The End of the World

[Categories: OAVs, Movies and Full Series]

Tokyo Godfathers

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Satoshi Kon]

I wrote this for the main site but since the hit counter code isn’t installed there I don’t even know if anyone visits…anyway. This will be all for a bit while I wrap up my exam revision.

Written and directed by Satoshi Kon, Tokyo Godfathers is a heartwarming tale of three homeless people who discover an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve. As the mismatched ‘family’ temporarily adopt the foundling and attempt to return her to her parents they meet a varied assortment of characters and make some interesting discoveries about themselves and each other.

When you make a mental list of traditional feelgood festive films, the titles you’re likely to come up with will probably include the classic It’s a Wonderful Life; an animated effort from the creative talent behind the Hitchcock-esque Perfect Blue and supernatural thriller Paranoia Agent may not immediately spring to mind. Surprisingly, the sharp observational eye and dry humour that Kon’s fans are familiar with are perfect for a film such as this so it comes across as quite whimsical and heartwarming instead of the ‘head trip’ like many of his previous efforts.

Granted, a movie whose main characters include a bratty teenage runaway, a grouchy drunk and a burned-out homosexual drag queen may not sound like your idea of entertainment; films who make stars out of the homeless are few and far between at the best of times. The truth is, because these three are unlikely heroes it makes their heroism all the more poignant. Sometimes driven by their attempts to escape their own pasts and sometimes motivated by it, the characters of Gin, Miyuku and Hana are memorable but surprisingly endearing. They are not couragous, selfless or fearless: they exhibit the same less-than-heroic traits shown by any one of us. Therein lies a great strength of the movie: it’s a story of very ordinary and down-to-earth people.

This is carried over by the artwork of the film, which goes from magical snowscapes to filthy urban alleyways littered with rubbish and dirt. It places a great emphasis on realism, right down to the texture of binbags and ripped posters on the walls; at times it’s gritty to the point of being depressing. It also pulls no punches in highlighting the dark, dirty and sometimes dangerous world of Tokyo’s homeless - fortunately this point is presented to the viewer but not forced.

Here is where Kon’s sharp and dry wit kicks in. Even though it shows the lives of people who are cold, hungry and often miserable, Tokyo Godfathers delivers its story with moments of laugh-out-loud humour. Often this comedy is dark, dry and in the ‘tragic/funny’ category: I found myself laughing along with our homeless heroes on many occasions. Not laughing at them, but with them.

There are one or two aspects that don’t ring true, however. In an attempt to make a dingy and depressing world more humorous, the facial expressions of the characters are sometimes exaggerated to a cartoonish degree, and there are moments where coincidence is quite obviously stretched to the point of divine intervention in order to move the story along. Fortunately the latter is easier to accept because Tokyo godfathers is, ultimately, an uplifting tale set at the most magical time of the year.

Summary

Both casual viewers and long-standing fans of Satoshi Kon’s blend of the magical and meticulously true-to-life directing style will find much to enjoy in Tokyo Godfathers. The social commentary is never allowed to get in the way of a good story so the (mis)adventures of Gin, Hana and Miyuki are presented for what they are: remarkable events witnessed by the most unremarkable of people. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry but crucially you’ll be gently reminded what the festive season is really about.

[Filed under OAVs, Movies and Full Series]  [Tags: Satoshi Kon]

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