Tokyo!

The latest anthology of cinematic tributes to the great cities of the world (after Paris, Je T'aime and New York, I Love You), Tokyo! is less about the city and its culture than the surreal visions of the three showcased directors. “Interior Design,” from French born, New York-based Michel Gondry, is the most interesting and evocative of the short films—a tale of a young woman who literally loses her sense of identity after moving to the city with her artist boyfriend. Heartache, desperation, and melancholia lie behind Gondry's whimsical imagery of the woman transforming into a piece of furniture, but she ultimately finds serenity in the evolution. Leos Carax's “Merde” is a more raucous piece of filmmaking starring Denis Lavant as a gnomish creature in the sewers (with his wild red hair and soiled green clothes he brings to mind a mutant leprechaun) who rampages above ground to the soundtrack of the original Godzilla films in a blast of pure chaos and craziness. Finally, South Korean director Bong Joon-ho explores the phenomenon of hikikomori (agoraphobes who withdraw from society and shut themselves in their homes) in “Shaking Tokyo,” when an earthquake connects a recluse and a pizza delivery girl. Like most anthology films, Tokyo! is hit and miss, but reasonably entertaining, overall. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include three “making-of” featurettes (approx. 30 min. each), director interviews (24 min.), a photo gallery, and a trailer. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven film.] (S. Axmaker)