Tokyo Sonata

not a "horror" film but still a true kafkaesque nightmare. Kurosawa's take on family drama feels reminiscent of Edward Yang and possesses a similar level of thematic potency. the film depicts the indifferent and cruel nature of modern life, a deep inclination to reject authority, as well as the stress that comes with the responsibilities of maintaining a domestic existence. there is no way out, no way to start over, and the ones who try to escape either reach a dead end or do so by latching onto hollow proclamations and fake ideals (sorry but committing war crimes in the Middle East is not going to save the world). a recurring theme of the film deals with the topic of centralization of the global economy and a disregard for the individual. as competition within the workforce increases, the monetary worth of each worker is devalued further and further, while profit margins rise. but despite all this, we have no choice but to confront our failures and try our best to retain our individualism and cultivate our talents; because ultimately that's what makes us who we are. *"You are the only person who can be you. It's all we have to hold on to." cue Clair de Lune* (P.S. i love Debussy so much. especially because of the kind of philosophy his music represents. not just in terms of music but in its general approach to art itself. the impressionistic qualities of his work encapsulate the nature of the human experience in a way that is unique compared to more structured and calculated forms of expression. even though i wouldn't call this film impressionistic by any means, the themes of the film feel congruent to the abstract nature of music)