Tokyo! (2008)

The closing film for this year's Singapore French Film Festival, it couldn't be more than apt as I prepare for my own trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, and what more than to sit through a collection of three short stories set in the capital city, as told by Frenchmen Michel Gondry, Leos Carax and Korean Bong Joon-ho, with their respective titled shorts Interior Design, Merde and Shaking Tokyo.

While I had enjoyed Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind tremendously, Singapore failed to screen Science of Sleep theatrically, but Be Kind Rewind had better luck. Amongst the three shorts presented, his is the one that I would rate the best, having to tell a deceptively simple tale about people, and some really keen observation that I'd bet most of us would fall into or had experience some point or another.

His Interior Design is two fold, telling of a couple who relocated to Tokyo, and on the kind grace of their friend, managed to put up in her home for, well, until they get an apartment of their own. I'm sure many of us would identify with either being someone who's not "automatic", in exploiting the goodwill of others to a max, though sometimes it's not by choice but by circumstance when Fate decides to deal an unfair hand. Or if you happen to be the Good Samaritan believing that helping your friends out would boost your karma, but unfortunately you feel discomforted by the fact that things have well gone overboard, not to mention with an unnecessary extension to the disruption of your personal life too. It's a fine balance to tread especially when you realise that there are still some OB markers even amongst the best of friends that one shouldn't cross.

The other aspect of Gondry's quirky story dealing with a literal metaphor. I felt this was a somewhat funny aspect, though it did bring to mind that everyone strives to be useful in their lives, either to their loved ones, or to society in general. And sometimes, this calling when found could bring some sense of immense fulfillment and happiness, nevermind if in the eyes of others, it could be a simple function that you're out to satisfy. It's pretty amazing how all these rolled succinctly into an approximately 40 minute feature that's well shot and acted.

Now Leos Carax's installment Merde is a mixed bag, and my least liked amongst the three. It had the potential of being truly a great story dealing with man's fear for the unknown and the bizarre, especially when the story cuts quite similar to recent incidents along the streets of Tokyo with random stabbings. Here, Merde is a man who crawls out from the sewers without explanation, with a long beard and pupil-less eyes, walking with a gait and is just about extremely obnoxious to everyone he comes across, before disappearing without a trace into the sewers again.

It was fun while it lasted, where everyone had their own interpretation of this widely talked about figure, until the later half where it all went downhill from there, suffering from the overindulgence of scene after scene of mindless interrogation in what I deem as made up language (or Polish?) sans subtitles, so you'll have to take it at face value, whatever was revealed through Japanese interpretors. While it does have a set conclusion, the in-between was one trying test of patience that I dislike, as it was unnecessary.

Bong Joon-ho's the odd one out amongst the French filmmakers, but he holds his own with his story dealing with a recl

Fmovies: "Tokyo!" is a film about 3 different stories that take place in Tokyo and each story is made by different directors.

Michel Gondry's "Interior Design" was surreal but also something some people can relate with. It's about a girl who has no ambitions in life and doesn't stand for herself and always gets the help from others. It's not that she doesn't want to be useful, she just has a difficult time with time trying to find her purpose in the world. But a drastic change takes place in her life. It felt it added a nice touch to Japanese life style and culture although some may disagree.

Leos Carax's "Merde" was disappointing and the story was boring and it felt the director wasn't even trying. The plot could have taken place else where cause it really has nothing to do with Tokyo or even has the atmosphere to it.

Bong Joon-Ho's "Shaking Tokyo" was the best out of the 3, it seems like for films like this they always show the best for last. It's about Teruyuki Kagawa who is a hikikomori who never steps foot outside, but that changes when he meets a pretty pizza delivery girl but in the process he accidentally inspires her to be a hikikomori herself, so from than on it's about a hikikomori falling for another hikikomori. I liked the style of this part of the film, it explored some of the characteristic in japan and the director seems to have done his research. I also fell for the actress who played pizza delivery girl Aoi Yu, maybe it's cause of her innocent and pretty looks although it's my first time seeing her in a film.

I give the film a 6.8/10 and if the second part of the film was good it would have been higher.

6.8/10

Tokyo! Is comprised of 3 very purely and exaggeratedly visual surreal tales about some sort of phenomenon in the titular city, each injected with quirky, silly humor and uncompromising sadness. We never know where any of them is going or when they will come to a close, and most of the time, that's what makes them so good. Truth be told, when all is said and done, these are three of the most inventively made and engrossing short films I've seen in quite awhile. So why are they all one movie? Why was Tokyo needed to tell these stories? Do these films reflect actual aspects of modern Tokyo? What makes these 3 separate films inextricably linked thus necessitating that they all be one? Michel Gondry's Interior Design, a just barely more conventional tale, features two young lovers new in Tokyo, who experience personal and physical transformations during the despair of apartment-hunting. It abounds with Gondry's usual trick photography and manipulation of set design, though it finds a sympathetic and guileless note in its attention to these two slackers, who are products of the new generation, the spoiled, emotionally immature but liberal and culturally cultivated bunch of bums we are.

The best of the three is Merde, the centerpiece by Leos Carax. If you have never before seen a Carax film, start with Tokyo! Because Merde is utterly the most bewilderingly odd, completely goofy little movies you will ever see. Might even take the cake. What makes it so incredibly good is how it isn't just a gag film, but actually subjects us to mood swings. We find the whole thing a riot, but we get seriously absorbed in its turns as eerie, suspenseful and adventurous. I can't talk about the plot, even though a simple logline wouldn't be much of a giveaway---the first shot is a long dolly track that pretty much sums up what I would say, which is a doozy---but just let the intrigue string you along and let Merde blindside you. But let me also say that Tokyo, though it is of course a part of the plot, is the least of our focus.

Shaking Tokyo, directed by Bong Joon-ho, who helmed the astounding Korean monster movie The Host, is about a hikikomori, a type so familiar the Japanese have a name for it. A hikikomori, usually male, decides to stay inside one day and essentially never leaves. Some have been reported as hermits for up to 10 years, living mostly on pizza deliveries. Joon-ho's closing segment is certainly the anthology's most heartfelt piece.

I suppose Tokyo! is guilty of nothing New York Stories or Paris Je T'aime aren't, but I guess New York Stories at least contained stories that could only work the way they did if they took place in NYC, and each of the three directors on that project were born and bred New Yorkers whose films are famous for living and breathing the city. My issue with anthology films in general, whether their content is good or not, is that they feel so jagged, incoherent, hit-or-miss, being the product of multiple directors with multiple visions and unrelated stories. Why can't Interior Design, Shaking Tokyo, and Merde especially, be celebrated as stand-alone works? I feel they more than deserve it.

Tokyo! fmovies. Greetings again from the darkness. Three odd shorts merged together because of their Tokyo locations. Normally I am not a fan of the segmented, multi-director approach. The best that come to mind are Paris je'Taime and New York Stories. Tokyo is not at that level.

The always interesting Michel Gondry (yes, he's French) has the best segment. Interior Design provides two story lines ... the fine line between generosity (helping a friend) and taking advantage of that friend; and the loneliness of losing one's self in a relationship. Gondry works wonders in a short time and I absolutely loved the chair as a metaphor.

The second segment comes from another Frenchman, Leos Carax. By far the weakest and least accessible, Merde is about our facing the fear of an unknown terror. We are startled in the beginning as we are introduced to Merde, but the story falls apart after he is incarcerated.

Korean Joon-ho Bong (The Host) presents Shaking Tokyo in the third segment. Dealing with a totally reclusive and obsessive character who, after 10 years, makes his first contact with another person and is captivated. There is some comedy here but also commentary on the need to connect.

Overall, some interesting shorts, but don't expect any tie to the three stories ... other than the fascinating title city.

I just saw Toyko! this week and loved it. The three film a very different yet weave together well with themes on communication, or lack there of. It is astounding how in one of the most populated cities in the world people can be so alone. Michel Gondry's "Interior Design" is both tragically realistic and sweetly surreal. The tale of the two young lovers who find their relationship unraveling after their move to Tokyo! is very touching. Ayako Fujitani's portrayal of a young woman struggle to find her purpose in the world is genuine and relatable. Not to mention is has some great visual effects in the ending. Leos Carax's "Merde" is entertaining and at times funny and sometimes tragic and disgusting. Bong Joon-Ho's "Shaking Tokyo," the story of a recluse who finally comes out of his home in search of a girl with buttons, is creative and funny and endearing. Basically, you should watch it because it's great.

I can honestly say I've never seen a film quite like Tokyo!. It's extraordinary in its scope and themes of love, identity, and purpose. Three different filmmakers: Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine...), Leos Carax, and Joon Ho Bong direct this triptych containing three different stories centered in the city of Tokyo!. All three stories do a great job conveying what it feels like to be a small fish in a big pond. The first film, Interior Design, is about a couple moving to Tokyo and trying to fit in. The second, and my favorite, is called Merde, and to explain it does not do it enough justice. You just have to watch it. The final story, Shaking Tokyo!, is a strange love story, but it works well with the city itself. The film is so unique, it must be viewed by everyone! Go see it!