Tokyo Story

About Tokyo Story

Released in 1953, "Tokyo Story" is a legendary film directed by Yasujirō Ozu and is considered as one of the greatest films ever made. The film revolves around an elderly couple, Shukichi and Tomi Hirayama, who decide to visit their adult children in Tokyo. However, they are largely neglected by their children who no longer need them and are too engaged in their own lives. Only their widowed daughter-in-law, Noriko, takes the time and attention to make them feel truly welcome. The film poignantly depicts the dichotomy between traditional Japanese values and modern life, and the breakdown of generational relationships.

Making / Production

"Tokyo Story" was produced by Shochiku Studios, with the screenplay written by Yasujirō Ozu and Kōgo Noda. The film was shot on location in Tokyo and Onomichi, a provincial town in Hiroshima Prefecture, with Ozu's signature minimalist style, marked by low camera angles and intricately framed shots.

Actors

• Chishū Ryū as Shukichi Hirayama: He tells an emotionally multi-layered story through a restrained and subtle performance as the aging patriarch.
• Chieko Higashiyama as Tomi Hirayama: She gives a touching performance as a kind and understanding mother.
• Setsuko Hara as Noriko Hirayama: As the widowed daughter-in-law, her compassionate performance stands out and forms the moral centre of the movie.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• "Tokyo Story" was not immediately hailed as a masterpiece when it was first released. It only gained international acclaim when it started being shown in film festivals years later.
• The film's reflective and melancholic tone is often attributed to post-WWII Japanese society.
• The film elements of "Tokyo Story" belong to the genre of "shomin-geki", which deals with the average lives of ordinary people.

Awards

"Tokyo Story" won the Sutherland Award for Best Film at the 1957 British Film Institute Awards. In 2012, it was voted the best film of all time in a poll of film directors by Sight & Sound magazine.

Quotes

• "Isn't life disappointing?" - Noriko
• "Even when parents expect nothing, it still hurts when the kids disappoint." - Shukichi

Music, Soundtrack

• The music for "Tokyo Story" was composed by Takanobu Saitō, who crafted a traditional yet emotive score that helps set the film's tone.