This rare Japanese Christmas anime movie from Satoshi Kon shows the theme of "coincidences". It's Christmas Eve in Tokyo, three homeless people just found an abandoned baby while searching in some trash. The three made it their quest to return the baby Kiyoko to her parents. On the way, all three meet coincidence people from their past. Gin is a middle-aged alcoholic gambler who abandoned his family when his gambling debts became too large. Hana is a transgender looking for love and good in people. He thinks he's a woman and that is why his desire that God would give him a child. Her dream in life was always to be a mother, and thus she is the most enthusiastic about taking care of Kiyoko, the baby she finds and names. Because of her upbringing, she is the kindest out of the three main characters, but is also severely ill, a fact which she hides from the others. It's barely noticeable in the movie. With all the action scenes that Hana go through, it doesn't look that way. Last is Miyuki is a teenager runaway with a trouble past. During a family dispute concerning her missing cat named Angel. Miyuki stabbed her father believing him to be responsible for the disappearance. Since then, her father had been on a search for her. The group encounters a number of odd characters on their way ranging from high-ranking yakuza man trapped under his car to drag queens. Not only that a series of miracles tend to happen to the three on their way, escaping car crashes and other hazardous. The biggest one is the ending. This movie also has one of the biggest 'twist' ending in a film that would not only surprise the characters, but also the audiences. There are key scenes that show the message of the kindness to others, such as Gin taking care of an old homeless man whom he finds dying in the street. One scene not needed was the Latino hit man and the Yakuza. It seem out of place. The art direction was lovely and the whole holy trinity/Christmas theme could have explained all of those coincidences and miracles that occurred during the movie. The late Satonshi Kon was a masterful command of satire, social commentary, and a balanced blend of reality and fantasy will live on as an immortal powerhouse. It's still a question for who this movie is made for. Most people in Japan are primarily either Shintoism or Buddhists. There only a very small populace that are Christians in Japan. The movie was probably made for US audiences. If watching, the subtitles are better to watch then dub lines. Original is better, the film is set in japan, so is more authentic if is in Japanese. One of the biggest strengths of the film is the humor. It's not the type of insular humor that only a Japanese person would understand but that everyone can identify with. The charm of the film is incalculable. You end up really feeling for the characters and near the verge of crying in touching scenes. Watch this movie during the Christmas time. Great family film, but note if watching with children understand this does have a little bit of harsh language, violence and a bit of nudity. A miracle movie.
Review of Tokyo Godfathers
