Ongaku kigeki horoyoi jinsei: A Tipsy Musical Time Capsule

Should you watch Ongaku kigeki horoyoi jinsei? If you have a soft spot for pre-war Japanese cinema and don't mind a movie that feels like it’s constantly losing its train of thought, sure. If you need a tight, logical plot that moves from A to B without wandering off into a musical number every ten minutes, look elsewhere. It’s not for everyone, especially if you get annoyed by characters who seem to exist only to burst into song at the most inconvenient times.

The Vibe

Honestly, watching this felt a bit like stumbling into a party where you don't know anyone, but they're all having a really great time. The film is loud, it’s cheery, and it moves with this weird, stuttery rhythm that I haven't seen in anything since Naceradec, král kibicu. It’s not trying to be high art, and thank goodness for that. It’s just trying to keep the momentum going, even when it clearly runs out of gas.

Specific Moments

There’s this one sequence about halfway through where the camera just sort of hangs on a performer’s face a beat too long. You can tell they were waiting for a cue that didn't come, or maybe they just forgot the next line. It’s charming in a deeply awkward way. It reminded me of those weird, static-filled scenes in The Lost Express where you just wonder why the director didn't yell cut.

Roppa Furukawa is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. When he’s on screen, the movie actually has a pulse. When he’s off, it feels like the extras are just sort of milling about waiting for their lunch break. There’s a specific bit of business with a tray of drinks that goes on for way too long, and I’m pretty sure someone drops a glass in the background, but nobody acknowledges it. They just keep singing.

Why it’s worth a look

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even particularly good by modern standards. But there’s something about the way these folks throw themselves into these musical numbers that makes me smile. It’s got that raw, unpolished energy you just don't get in big studio productions. It’s messy, it’s loud, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want on a Tuesday night. 🍷

• The sound mixing is... an experience.
• Sets look like they might tip over if someone sneezes too hard.
• Wait, did they just use that song again? Yes, they definitely did.

It’s a weird little trip. Don't go in expecting The Duke Steps Out levels of polish, because you won't find it. Just let the music wash over you and try not to think too hard about the continuity errors. They’re everywhere, and they’re kind of the point.