Synopsis
Okajima stands up for a mistreated colleague in his insurance firm, and gets fired. Deprived of his year end bonus, he is unable to honor his promise to buy his son a bicycle. When his daughter falls sick he has to pay for the hospital bills by pawning his wife's kimonos. After some setbacks in job-hunting, he runs into an old schoolmaster, who asks him to help at his new curry restaurant. At first reluctant, Okajikma and his wife swallow their pride and work hard. At a reunion of classmates held at the restaurant., Okajima learns that his teacher has found him a job at a girl's school far from Tokyo.

Thoughts from Ozu
I was getting sick of failure, and decided to make a film in a nonchalant mood. Shooting proceeded at the height of summer. It was too hot to shoot outdoor scenes even on sunny days. Since that time, I couldn't figure out what to do to make a good film. What can a director bequeath to posterity? I began to find film meaningless. Now, I feel the other way around. The very fact that films could fade into oblivion is what makes it so enchanting.

Personal Thoughts and Comments
Tokyo Chorus is a wonderful introduction of Ozu during the silent era. Thematically you can certainly see that Ozu later built upon what he developed early on here, and stylistically there is clearly a more Hollywood influenced approach. The film is tragic yet deeply hopeful at the same time. One of the key examinations of the film is the contrast between urban and suburban living, but ultimately this is a film of parenthood in it's very essence. The film is remarkably moving particularly in the way Ozu captures (without sentiment) the childrens acceptance and understanding of their fathers work simply as a means to provide them with food. There are some remarkable images and sequences within this film that are very memorable and Ozu blends his definitive mix of humor and bittersweet sadness. Above all, Tokyo Chorus displays the early depicts of a poetic master.