Opens with a New 35th Anniversary 4K Restoration by Indie Collect in New York at BAM Rose Cinemas on August 4th and in Los Angeles at the American Cinematheque on August 11th, followed by national expansion.
Watching Fran Rubel Kuzui’s gave me a mysterious sense of déjà vu as her movie “Tokyo Pop” is very much about a misplaced American experiencing culture shock and alienation in an Asian country. Then I realize that Sofia Coppola pretty much conveyed almost the exact same narrative in her acclaimed “Lost in Translation.” Fran Rubel Kuzui’s “Tokyo Pop” from 1988 was an obvious influence that apparently never really was discussed very much. So much of “Tokyo Pop” is similar in tone, aesthetic and the idea of using media as a means of helping people to connect. With “Tokyo Pop” characters Wendy and Hiro use music as a means of connecting in a world where they’re separated by language and culture.
Bleach-blonde wannabe rocker Wendy is disillusioned with her life in New York City. After receiving a postcard from Japan saying “wish you were here,” she spontaneously hops on a plane to Tokyo with dreams of making it big as a singer. Quickly finding herself broke, she moves into a youth hostel for “gaijin” (foreigners) and takes up work as a hostess at a karaoke bar. She soon meets Hiro, a rock ‘n’ roller whose band is looking for their big break. They form a romantic and musical connection and Hiro convinces Wendy to become their lead singer. Through a combination of hustle and luck, they stumble into their 15 minutes of fame, but Wendy soon comes to realize that being a gaijin rocker may be nothing more than a passing fad.
Much like the aforementioned film, Japan plays a big role in conveying the sense of longing and alienation, as well as Wendy’s need to belong somewhere. Japan is a gorgeous and stunning city and it’s also an unforgiving one that thrusts Wendy back and forth between an unusual Inn with other American citizens, to unusual night clubs where business men wile away the hours with hostesses and karaoke. Fran Rubel Kuzui presents such a beautiful vision with such a meaningful story centering on a pair of musicians defined by their love of rock and roll music. Wendy is seeking fulfillment through her music, while Hiro is desperate to prove to his parents and himself that music can offer him something no other profession can.
Thankfully co-stars Carrie Hamilton and Diamond Yukai are very good in their respective roles, especially Yukai. Unlike “Lost in Translation,” Fran Rubel Kuzui allows us a look in to the other side of this narrative portraying the Japanese world less as window dressing and much more humanistic. Hiro is a very engaging and sympathetic individual whose journey is uncertain but he is dead set on his pursuit of music partially as a means of avoiding the dead end his family is currently stuck in. “Tokyo Pop” has the benefit of also offering some very good pop rock that act as great methods of conveying certain emotions that the characters can’t otherwise say.
The final act with Hiro singing his heart out about his experience with Wendy is especially heart breaking and allows for a pretty emotional send off with an uneasy climax. “Tokyo Pop” is definitely an eighties gem worth discovering that channels complex and engaging emotions through rock and roll and cultural shifts.