Tokyo Sonata: KUROSAWA Kiyoshi’s superb drama, which remains more relevant than ever, tells the story of a middle-class executive and his family after he is downsized. Choosing to keep his firing a secret, the emotional distance between him and his wife, as well as his two sons, only grows. Acting is very low-key, but it’s rare to see so much done with so little: KAGAWA Teruyuki projects a lot just with his posture as the father who is, above all, afraid of losing face; KOIZUMI Kyooko, plays his wife, who works hard to keep the house balanced; INOWAKI Kai, as the youngest son, is solid as the kid struggling to follow his own path. Director of photography ASHIZAWA Akiko’s work is simple and elegant; editor TAKAHASHI Kooichi’s pace is excellent. The use of music is also exceptional, with Debussy being employed in a crucial scene to great effect.