Tokyo Polka

1997 • Directed by

Daishi Kobayashi

Life is not as it seems, and before you know it, it has begun.

The opening bust-shot, with its frequent use of cut-away shots and blurred dialogue, is like a campus version of Ozu's films. As the story progresses, however, the film itself breaks away from a style that was as borrowed (but still very fitting) as the protagonist. The way the film acquires its own rhythm and flavour is more than just a pleasurable experience, it is a cinematic pleasure.