MovieChat Forums > Tokyo Sonata (2008) Discussion > Question on the mother and the burglar

Question on the mother and the burglar


When the mother and the burglar were at the beach, she said she saw land or a plane or something, and the burglar got upset and screamed that he didn't see anything. What was this all about? Thanks.

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I think it's meant to be kind of a metaphor for how the mother possesses the strength of will to not give up. She hasn't lost hope in life whereas the burglar clearly has. This scene & the one following, where she sees the light hanging above the sea, are hard to make sense of on any level other than a metaphorical/allegorical one. Kurosawa clearly isn't interested in explaining it away as an airliner or a ship or whatever. Even the scene where she's staggering - zombie-like - along the beach & the her face suddenly begins to glow has that same aspect to it. Yes, on one level of course it's just the sun coming up, but the way it's staged gives the shot that same quality.

Mai Yamane! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD83P-vn5JI&feature=related

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i believe, using my Asian mentality, it simply meant that Megumi still had hope (although faint and waning) despite the darkness in her life. The burglar could no longer see his way out, which explains the tracks into the sea in a later scene (aka suicide).

As for her stumbling around, that is showing that she is lost after realizing the fellow has drowned himself (with a topless car.... ). When the sun rises and shone on her, it suddenly dawned on her that she still has a place to return to.

My only question is, did the burglar and Mrs Sasaki had spontaneous sex in the "beach house"? It would seem unlikely, but..... one doesn't really need to take clothes off to have sex.

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[deleted]

I agree, I even thought that it was all in Megumi's mind

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it was an illusion friend
she saw it in her mind only
the burglar isnt in her mind
so he didnt see it
take care friend

im tokyo joe and i know tokyo
http://www.tokyojoe.tk

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