TOKYO GODFATHERS (2003) by Satoshi Kon

"With its masterful grasp of comedy, pathos, social commentary and mystical weirdness, Tokyo Godfathers takes anime to a whole new level." Ken Eisner (Variety)

"Part of the spell cast by this magical film is its ability to make an unvarnished political statement about economic reality and social alienation while, at the same time, seducing its audience into believing in the transformative power of love and the almost supernatural beauty of the everyday." Michael O'Sullivan (Washington Post)

"For all its echoes of Frank Capra and Charlie Chaplin (as well as Ford), the movie is also a love letter to modern Tokyo, whose alleyways and skyscrapers are drafted with flawless precision and tinted with tenderness and warmth." Dana Stevens (The New York Times)

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Ahoy folks! This week we'll be discussing a CHRISTMAS MOVIE before we break until the new year 🎄❄🎅

Join us Sunday, December 15 at 10am at the Red Brick Cafe for our discussion of TOKYO GODFATHERS (2003) by Satoshi Kon.

All I know about the film is that it centres around three homeless individuals who somehow come into caretaker roles looking after young baby/infant.

For those unfamiliar, Guelph Film Society is no stranger to the films of writer/director extraordinaire Satoshi Kon. We've discussed two of his other works in the past, PERFECT BLUE (1997) and PAPRIKA (2006), both of which contain elements of surrealism and a deeper exploration of the human condition.

TOKYO GODFATHERS is apparently more lighthearted compared with his other works, which isn't surprising based on the general premise. If the film is anything like PERFECT BLUE and PAPRIKA, I imagine it will explore aspects pertaining to human consciousness, identity, and the nature of reality... which just so happens to segue nicely into January, and ultimately the first three months of our 2025 schedule (we'll be watching a classic 90s drama by another humanistic Japanese director... more on that soon!).

You can stream TOKYO GODFATHERS for free on Hoopla. It's also rentable virtually on Youtube, Apple TV, and the Microsoft Store.

Happy watching and happy holidays! ☃️