Review Film # TOKYO GODFATHERS (2003)
From the title may be many who think this movie is a remake or a loose adaptation of the Japanese filmmaking of the legendary mafia movie "The Godfather". But in reality this film has nothing to do with Corleone Family. Indeed there was intrigue criminal organizations like the mafia that appeared in this movie but that's not the subject of conflict and the main story in this movie. "Tokyo Godfather" actually tells of the fate of life which, when reviewed is often closely related to coincidence. Coincidences that sometimes will be funny.
The film is about 3 street people who on Christmas night found a baby girl lying in a garbage dump. The three men are Hana, a transvestite who is very hopeful to give birth to a child and become a mother. Gin is a middle-aged man who works just drinking and getting drunk, and Miyuki, a teenage girl who ran away from home. Unexpectedly, on a christmas night that for people who do not have a home and family is just an ordinary night they are led by fate to find a wasted baby girl and decide to take care of the baby before finally deciding to try to find the baby's parents who were given Kiyoko's name and return it.
But it turns out during the journey and the search that they pass, destiny also brings them to the things that little by little reveals their personal secrets and past three lives that they save from each other. So in addition to trying to restore the baby, they gradually tread their destiny to finish what they have left in their past. A plot that is not complicated but keeps the sweet, funny and surprising surprises brought by God's destiny.
The main strength of the "Tokyo Godfather" is how we are led to witness the unexpected destiny of moving between the three main characters. Many are criticizing the accidental element that is too thick to master the story of this movie. But do those critics realize that virtually all the events we experience in this life are never out of coincidence? But surely all the coincidences are basically the paths outlined by God, and sometimes God has a unique way and people will not think what will happen, Less is the thing that this film is trying to give.
I really like how all the unexpected coincidences flowed throughout the movie. Thanks to the pleasant coincidences, the various feelings I was able to feel in watching this movie began to be shocked, laughing because it was funny, until some quite touching moments. These moments not only come thanks to the plot story, but also thanks to the three main characters are lovable. Although there are often conflicts and annoying behavior from all three, but I have never been annoyed with them but have always liked them with all the uniqueness and secrets of their past.
The film made by director Satoshi Kon 3 years before he made "Paprika" that inspires Nolan is a movie full of simplicity but on the other hand is also full of uniqueness brought by destiny and coincidence. Fate and coincidences are as beautiful and beautiful as looking at the journey of life of Hannah, Gin and Miyuki.
In addition to an interesting story and beautiful cinematography, one of the advantages of Kon's works is the unique character of each character. This time, the character of Hana who became the most attention-grabbing character, especially with his behavior and the face of a funny and often inviting laughter. Even so, the portion shown is balanced for the three main characters