A remake of the French film Driving Madeline, Tokyo Taxi is its own charming film. While the film has the same flaw as the original, we kind of know how this is going to go, the film rethinks the material to echo Japanese culture.
The plot of the film has a cash strapped taxi driver who is planning on sleeping in after a long night. A friend calls offering him a well-paying job driving an older woman on a long-distance drive. Needing the money agrees. As they drive, he becomes frustrated with her side trips. However, over the course of the journey, they bond.
Over all you know where this is going to go, mostly. However, what makes the film a delight is a combination the long flash back sequences revealing the woman’s tough life and the two leads who absolutely sell the film.Chieko Baisho and Takuya Kimura are note perfect in their roles and make you want to hang out with them. Actually, the best thing that I can say about them is that while their story is the same as the earlier film, they are not the same characters. Baisho and Kimura they may have the same place holders but how the act and react is different. They are so different that I would actually love to see the two sets of characters meet up to see what would happen.
I was moved to the point of tears, so bring tissues.
TOKYO TAXI is opening this year’s Japan Cuts. While the screening is sold out, there will be a stand by line so I suggest if you are interested, take a chance and see if you can get in. It will make you smile
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