RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Tokyo Story
Tokyo Story

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

Tokyo Story (1953)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
100 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 21

Fresh: 21

Rotten:0

Average Rating: 9.7/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 19 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Synopsis: The Japanese family's transformation by modern, Western culture formed the core theme of director Ozu's work, and this motif is crystallized in an exquisite, intimate story of alienation and... The Japanese family's transformation by modern, Western culture formed the core theme of director Ozu's work, and this motif is crystallized in an exquisite, intimate story of alienation and reconciliation in TOKYO STORY. An aging couple, living in retirement in rural Japan, decide to visit their married children in the bustling metropolis of post-war Tokyo. But once they arrive, they find that the children no longer have room for them in their busy lives. Shuffling their parents back and forth between each of their houses the couple is eventually shipped off to a health spa. Only the couple's daughter-in-law, widow of their son who died in the war, shows them any kindness. The parents return home lonely and disillusioned, and the mother soon falls sick. The children arrive too late, and have lost their chance to make any reconciliation. The patterns of movement, dialogue and nature combine with a scrupulous attention to character under Ozu's masterful eye and create a subtle yet overwhelmingly emotional drama. [More]

Starring: Chishu Ryu, Chiyeko Higashiyama, Sô Yamamura, Haruko Sugimura

Starring: Chishu Ryu, Chiyeko Higashiyama, Sô Yamamura, Haruko Sugimura, Setsuko Hara, Kyôko Kagawa, Shiro Osaka

Director: Yasujiro Ozu

Director: Yasujiro Ozu
Screenwriter: Yasujiro Ozu, Kogo Noda
Composer: Takanori Saito

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Oct 14, 2003

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Tokyo Story

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
10/30/06
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

No review available.

comment Comment
08/12/05
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story might be his masterpiece.

Full Review Source: ToxicUniverse.com | comment Comment
01/31/05
Dan Callahan
ToxicUniverse.com

Ozu doesn't sentimentalize or condemn; he merely observes human nature with calm and clarity.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
12/30/04
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Ozu's style is one based on restriction, rigor, and repetition, which paradoxically expands his emotional meanings.

Full Review Source: Filmjourney | comment Comment
12/01/04
Doug Cummings
Filmjourney

One of the most quietly powerful studies of the gradual and inevitable erosion of the family in a rapidly changing world.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
08/25/04
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
04/09/04
Guardian [UK]

Anyone can relate to those moments when the calm is broken by the undercurrents of anguish, disappointment and resentment that run through every family.

Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | comment Comment
04/09/04
Jason Anderson
eye WEEKLY

Rife with a pervasive sense of loss, Tokyo story offers little comfort and promises great sorrow. This is a profoundly moving film.

Full Review Source: Cinemania | comment Comment
04/05/04
Dan Jardine
Cinemania
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Critical Eye | comment Comment
01/24/04
Mark Freeman
Critical Eye

No review available.

comment Comment
01/23/04
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

It ennobles the cinema. It says, yes, a movie can help us make small steps against our imperfections.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
01/15/04
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

One of the great classics of world cinema.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
01/13/04
Jamie Russell
BBC

constantly bursts with life and meaning, despite the fact that very little happens in the conventional narrative sense

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
12/14/03
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

Examines the same themes as films like Ordinary People and American Beauty, for example. And both of those look clumsy and derivative in comparison!

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
12/12/03
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

This very well might be the best film ever made.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
12/08/03
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Could easily change your life.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
11/17/03
Jeffrey M. Anderson
San Francisco Examiner

like people-watching from the point of view of a god

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
10/27/03
Jake Euker
Filmcritic.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
See More Topics...

Related Forums for Tokyo Story

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
79%
79%
Gran Torino
30%
30%
12 Rounds
23%
23%
Confessions of a Shopa…
—
The Code
39%
39%
Inkheart

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
22%
22%
Push
12%
12%
The Unborn

More New Releases…

RT On Current TV

What’s Hot On RT

Deconstructing Harry

Deconstructing Harry

Pt. 3: Cuaron's darker Prisoner of Azkaban

Best Mockumentaries

Best Mockumentaries

From Borat to Spinal Tap, this one goes to 11

Humpday Clip

Humpday Clip

An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

Half-Blood Prince

Half-Blood Prince

How good is the 6th Harry Potter?

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: T.J. Hooker Film in Development
26
  • Warners Shortens Green Lantern Wishlist Source: Hollywood Reporter
102
  • Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3 Source: MakingOf.com
32
  • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
60
  • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
18
  • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
10
  • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
82
  • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
39
  • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
8
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
92
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
67
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
59
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
52
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
46
  • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
43
  • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
42
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
40
  • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
39
  • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
26
  • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
19
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Tokyo Story at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

A Baywatch Comedy?
A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.