This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Benoit Tardif) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Named after Yasujiro Ozu’s custom-made, tatami-level, crab-like tripod, Kani is a new home video label dedicated to leveling the gaze and furthering the understanding of Asian cinema in North America. Focused on genre-defying films, Kani aims to expand the canon, bolster up-and-coming filmmakers and reintroduce repertory classics in context. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
Unemployed in the wake of the pandemic, 26 year-old filmmaker Taku Aoyagi decides to try his luck in Tokyo. Short on worldly possessions but a bike and a phone, he becomes an Uber Eats rider. Now, he can decide his own hours and is free to choose when to take orders! But pedalling through deserted streets delivering boba tea to cloistered condos, he starts to wonder... what was it that Ken Loach said about the Uberization of society?
Thrillingly shot from a first-person perspective on a mixture of smartphones and GoPros, first-time vlogger-turned-director Taku Aoyagi invites the audience to join him on his daily rides speeding through a deserted city. Talking to himself and his peers, he asks: for a young, unemployed person with $40,000 of student debt, does gig-work offer a model for the future?
directed by: Taku Aoyagi
starring: various
2021 / 93 min / 1.78:1 / Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.85 / 5 from 20 reviews.
Review topics: ["looks","presentation","documentary","capsule","release","blu-ray","film","doc","scenes","life","experience","period","fair","movie"].
"Excellent release for a fascinating doc. Such a beautifully raw look into a sliver of time that feels like a blur, like a small time capsule of the state of the world in 2020. Having been to Japan a few times, including several of the places he spent a lot of time, the look at the deserted, disconnected world and his own struggles in it is heartbreaking."
"For a movie shot on an IPhone and GoPro this Blu Ray looks really good. There's alot of depressing scenes of how shitty life can get but somehow becomes uplifting in the end. You really feel for Taku Aoyagi throughout, really good documentary."
"I really enjoyed this digital DIY movie. First time I’ve seen a movie about Uber. I recommend this one."
"Tokyo Uber Blues is a quietly captivating urban drama that finds beauty in the ordinary rhythms of a delivery driver’s life. Its moody cinematography and reflective tone give the film a meditative quality that lingers long after the credits roll. While its slow pace requires patience, viewers open to subtle storytelling will find it a rewarding, atmospheric experience. Great bonus short included too!!"
"What it is like to make a living these days, I assume."
"This is a great documentary about a time we all lived through. This release is fantastic with great special features I really liked the Q&A. Also the slipcover is cute."
"There's not much more to say about the film/documentary; it was shown in cinemas in so many countries that anyone interested in Japan will surely have heard something about it. I found the author, director, and lead actor's completely unvarnished approach to the subject matter, including his own role in it, fascinating. He would have had many opportunities to present himself in a favorable light, but he did not: he even rubs salt in the wound. Whether it's ordering a call girl or simply not working for a few days even though he knows that this will lead him into homelessness! And especially the last few minutes, this self-imposed quest that has him cycling through the rain for hours, this feeling that nothing matters anymore and that you're slowly going a little crazy. . . anyone who has ever experienced this will get goosebumps watching this scene. A great film, but one that unfortunately doesn't quite know whether it wants to denounce social injustices or simply depict a period in the protagonist's life. But still sooooo good"
"This documentary really hit me and may reach you in ways you didn’t expect. This was filmed during those wonderful Covid times we all loved. In Japan it was super strict. Taku Aoyagi chronicles his daily routine when he travels to Tokyo to be an uber eats bike delivery person. It’s a testament to the Japanese spirit. Also a sad state on those dealing with crippling debt. It’s somber. But also has a good non judgmental nor bias to it. It simply presents a small slice of life of someone who is trying to break free. Recommended"
"This is a fascinating documentary/video blog. A real stark look at the kind of work culture companies like Uber Eats brings to the world. The whole thing, for better or worse, brings up a lot of memories of those first few months of COVID. A total recommend, imo."
"This film was basically a documentary about an out-of-work film school graduate who tries to survive economically during the pandemic. He joins the gig economy by becoming a bike deliverer for Uber Eats in Tokyo. We get to see all of his struggles and setbacks he encounters while making very little money along the way. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences between how our different cultures dealt with the pandemic. It was also heartwarming to see how he never gave up and had a positive attitude throughout. It was an overall wonderful experience, and I am glad I picked this one up."
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