Tokyo Tower - Mom & Me, and sometimes Dad

I just read that this is the third adaptation of Masaya Nakagawa's autobiography in a year - incredible isn't it. And the bestseller is like the next "Norwegian Woods", which really says a lot.

Alright, enough about what I soaked up from the mayhem of websites. Well, firstly, the cast is fantastic, as the story revolves around Masaya growing up in the 60s in a small mining town with his mum, moving away to Tokyo for studies and work and later, living alone with her. Along the way, the subtle touches of unconditional parental love, encouragement and sacrifice would make anyone a cry-baby, though I think the director has done a good job in making sure there isn't any emotional overkill. Perhaps, the movie makes one want to be more appreciative of and to do more things with one's mum, which is no small feat, mind you.

For a movie like this, it is the small detail that leaves a deep impression. There was one scene where Masaya, already a rather successful illustrator/columnist/radio talk host, asks his mum where has all her money gone to, leaving her without any for retirement. His mum turns around to fetch something. Facing him again and pointing to his framed university certificate, she says proudly that this is where all the money is. He can't help but flashes a shy, sheepish grin. Priceless. Masaya has lived off his mum's hard-earned money in his lacklustre, slack university's days, you see.

When Masaya was a young boy, his mum had no lack of suitors - his parents were divorced - but perhaps out of concern how her boy would react with a new father, she never did remarry. Thereafter, she worked hard to raise him up alone, even without her own mother's help.

There are good times when he finally brings his mother to tokyo, drivng her around for good food and sight-seeing. At the foot of Tokyo Tower one night, he promises his mum to look out togther from the top one day. Being a good cook and a party live-wire with stories aplenty, his mum charms his friends too, and in turn makes them hers. All good things come to end, as Masaya stands by his cancer-stricken mum in her last days.

*You held my hands in the storms. Now, let me hold yours in your last journey...

Not teary yet? Well, try this...

*quoted from the VCD's cover

PS: You know, it's scary if you think about it: the day words are replaced by images.