Wednesday, March 14, 2012
All in the Family
Tokyo Story shows the relationship between two aged parents and their grown children. On a visit to Tokyo to visit their children, who turn out to be more busy and less successful than they supposed, they are unceremoniously shuffled from child to child and eventually to a resort. By the end of their trip, the mother relies on the kindness of her son's widow and the father becomes drunk and is escorted by the police to his daughter's home. Returning home the mother becomes sick and dies. The children return for the funeral and leave their father alone. How accurate is this portrayal of family life? Is this a "slice of life" (and part of the reason it feels as if "nothing happens")? Does this remind you of your family? Is this how families work? Focus on one scene or character and discuss what it tells us about the dynamics of family life.
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The portrayal of family life that is seen in this movie does portray the relationships that aer felt between parents and their grown children. As children grow up they naturally grow further away from their parents , and need to be able to find their own way in life. I think that this is truly a slice of life and is part of the reason why we see this film as somewhat boring or dull, because it is not some sort of fantasy world but indeed is a part of us. This family does remind me of my family is some ways, but i feel that my family is much closer than the one portrayed in Tokyo Story. I believe that families must work this way to some degree, but not be so close so that the children never grow away from their parents. A parents duty is to nuture their child so that they can go on and live a successful life away from their parents. One scene I think that captures the dynamics of family life is when we see one of the daughters talking about how it was an inconvience that her mother had died in such a busy time of the year. I think that this shows how life and its fast flow makes us take for granted the things that have always been there for us and what truly matter.
ReplyDeleteIn the Japanese culture, family life is help to a high regard as the elders are treated with the utmost signs of respect and gratitude. However in the film Tokyo Story these vales seem to go out the window. A perfect example of this is when the mother has become ill late in the film and her children are sitting around a table wondering how to move on if their mother passes away. During this conversation, one of the daughters mentions what possessions she wants when her mother does pass away. This is not only extremely disrespectful to her mother, but also to the rest of the family as they begin to grieve their loss. In my opinion, this film does not paint a good picture of how family's not only interact, but how they live in general. In my family, I am extremely close with my immediate family as I see them almost every week. In Tokyo Story, the grandparents come to visit Tokyo for the first time as they travel a far distance from their home town. The entire family does not prepare for their visit as they are not willing to buy lavish food to welcome them as the children subject their parents to crackers. There are many instances of disrespect towards the elders in the family and that does not paint a picture of how many families operate.
ReplyDeleteTokyo Story in no way reminded me of my own family for a number of reasons. The members of the family in Tokyo Story did not appear to be particularly close. The numerous sons, daughters, and daughter-in-laws of the two vacationing seniors did not seem to be interested in spending time with their parents (or parents-in-law) or each other, and instead chose to pool their money to send them away to a resort, which the parents did not enjoy. When the female senior suddenly died following the trip to Tokyo, her children took the event quite lightly. They attended a quick funeral and then returned to Tokyo, leaving their father (or father-in-law) to live alone. The members of my family who are alive appear to be rather close. Several years ago, for example, my uncle moved in with my family and stayed for some time. I also spend time with my grandfather each week. Thus this movie does not seem to be an accurate portrayal of family life.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Jeremy that Tokyo Story does portray growing relationships between parents and their children in some cases. It is true that as children age; they mature growing further away from their parents seeking to make it for themselves in life. However, I do not fell as though Tokyo Story is the truest and most sincere portrayal of how children and their parental figures grow and interact as life goes on; it merely being a depiction of one extreme. While parents are responsible for the nurturing and growth of their youth and have to know when to let go allowing their offspring to fend for themselves, Tokyo Story does not simply tell the tale of a family that does just that. The relationships seen in Tokyo Story appear emotionless and almost cold the only feeling really being given off is that of pure sorrow. After watching the movie for so long one can’t help but realize that these dry characters that we’re following are extremely sad and burdened by something we cannot fully comprehend. In my opinion, Tokyo Story serves as a sort of counter presentation to the typical extremely happy depictions of families and their social interactions. I feel it’s not so much of an accurate depiction of family life but one uncommon depiction meant to present an alternate view.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jeremy as this movie does show the change that occurs within a family. As children grow older, they often tend to distance themselves from their parents and ‘blaze their own trails’. This is a part of life that, whether you like it or not, will take place. I believe that this is indeed a slice of life, as tragic as that may be. In Japanese and other Asian cultures, parents are seen and treated with the highest levels of respect and regard. Thus, it was shocking to see the way that the children treated their parents in Tokyo Story. It was appalling to see their utter lack to desire to spend time with and cherish the moments that they had with their aging parents. However, I also believe that the family situation displayed in this film is an extreme (in terms of the children distancing themselves from their parents). While children often ‘blaze their own trails’, it is much more common that children remain close to their parents, always caring for and assisting them in any way that they can. While children may move away and create families of their own, it is important that these children remain an integral part of their parents’ lives. I believe that my family is much different than the one portrayed in Tokyo Story. We are incredibly close, and I hope that we remain that way. This is also how I think most families operate, with an subconscious understanding that while children grow up and distance themselves from their roots, they also maintain the close relationships with their parents that they have nurtured over the years. One of the most vivid scenes that I remember is when the grandparents first arrive in Tokyo. First off, their daughter seems inconvenienced by their arrival and her children (the grandchildren) are rude and inconsiderate to the people that Japanese society explicitly explains should receive the utmost respect. Also, the daughter is constantly on the phone, trying to pawn off her parents to different relatives to get them out of her hair. This was disturbing that does not accurately depict how most families live their lives.
ReplyDeleteThe dynamics of family life change a lot with the influence of urban life. Tokyo Story exemplifies this statement. The young families are all are too busy and occupied to be taking care of the older couple. The coming of the old couple seems to upset the balance that they had already established and the first incident that sheds light into this is the complaining child who wants to have his bedroom to himself. The families seem to struggle with accommodating their parents because their daily routines do not allow them to entertain their guests at all. As a result there is animosity among the family members because no one knows how to deal with the sudden intrusion of space and time. The scene where the son (Doctor) abandons the plans he had made with his parents to attend a patient is one such powerful occurrence that communicates that the families are indeed not able to deal with the visiting parents. Unfortunately, this is not something he could have controlled; these are the demands of city life. In general the families appear to be far removed from the care and entertainment of their parents. This is typical family life in urban and suburban areas, people are constantly up and about; not the kind of atmosphere that my folks from Arkansas can deal with. Sadly.
ReplyDeleteTokyo Story really does capture a slice of life, at least life back then (when parents weren't constantly up to tabs on what their children were doing). As is said several times towards the end of the film, your children wont always grow up to be exactly how you expect them to be. They are after all different people. Sometimes one just has to accept disappointment. That being said, the parents are still glad that their children are okay.
ReplyDeleteLife is full of disappointments, and family is no exception. One can always hope for the best, but life isn't a fairy tale, and sometimes, things never come true. Ones dreams don't always materialize.
The family in Tokyo Story is clearly a strained one. The constant fake smiles, the the obvious annoyance in most of the family. The parents are not stupid. They can sense that their children feel as though they are a burden. This is a very real feeling. Every child feels like their parents are a burden at one point or another. It isn't always this strong, but it is very possible. Intergenerational tension is always common: I can personally feel tention between my father and his father.