bunny_tsukino Review of The Family Game

The Family Game (1983)

A funny, if not a little eccentric, look at Japanese society

[8/10 · 10 November 2005]

The movie tells of a Japanese family living in a small apartment. They have two sons, one in high school doing well in his studies, the other failing miserably because he does not care. Shigeyuki, the younger brother, is not stupid, he is just lazy, and a bit of a trouble maker. The family has hired a series of tutors for the boy, but none have helped. This changed with the introduction of Yoshimoto, the new tutor. He has quite a different look at tutoring, including kissing his subject and then smacking him, and then rubbing the young man's buttocks. As Shigeyuki begins to flourish under the odd tutor, his older brother, once considered to be the son that brought pride to the family is beginning to fall behind and cut classes. His once encouraging father insults him and his mother tries her best to hold the family. We not only explore the boys' studies, but also the family dynamic. The father works all the time, and doesn't care about his family. The mother tries to hold the family together, and like many women all over the world, is unhappy having to sacrifice her happiness for her husband and children. The film, although quite smart, is also very funny. Shigeyuki has a habit of fighting with older boys, and we hear stories of how he once lost control of his bowels in class. Shigeyuki is given porn mags as a joke, and when his tutor sees them he asks 'does looking at them give you a hard on?' to which Shigeyuki replies, 'no, i don't like girls.' the tutor fires back 'they give me hard ones, fast'. The tutor often has dinner with his student's family. During one of the final, and most hilarious scenes you see mother and father discussing their family, while ignoring the escalating food fight beside them. Not until Yoshimoto pours wine all over their small table do they take notice. This is when the fun really begins. One by one Yoshimoto smacks them all into unconsciousness, in hilarious loony toons or three stooges fashion. Kazoku gêmu, or The Family Game, is a hilarious piece of work from Japan. It is HARD to find with English subtitles, but worth the search!