Tokyo Chorus (1931)

In the heart of Tokyo, Mr. Omura, a stern teacher, orchestrates a lively outdoor drill with his male students. Among them is the comical Shinji Okajima, a young man known for his lack of shirt and his knack for making faces behind Omura's back, while discreetly scratching at irksome fleas. Fast forward a few years, Shinji has traded his student life for domesticity, being a husband and a father to three children with an occupation in insurance sales. On the annual bonus day of his company, he finds himself in a moral predicament when an older colleague is unjustly fired. Fueled by a sense of righteousness, Shinji raises his voice in protest, a decision that costs him his own livelihood. Now jobless, he and his wife face the daunting task of navigating through life's hardships. Their journey is not just about survival, but a test of endurance – wrestling with their own pride, dealing with the incessant demands of their young children, and revisiting relationships from their school days. All these elements intertwine to shape the outcome of their poignant struggle, painting a vivid portrait of life's unpredictability in the backdrop of Tokyo.

Tokyo Chorus is a comedy movie featuring Tokihiko Okada and directed by Yasujirō Ozu.

Tokyo Chorus is currently streaming on Criterion Channel and DIRECTV.