Tokyo Waka: A City Poem

Name: Tokyo Waka: A City Poem
Genre: History, Documentary, News
Released: August 28, 2013
Duration: 63 min
Rating: 76

2013

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Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: August 28, 2013 | Not Rated

Summary: A poem about a city, its people, and 20,000 crows.

Director: John Haptas and Kristine Samuelson

Genre(s): History, Documentary, News

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 63 min

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Critic Reviews

Alan Scherstuhl

Aug 27, 2013

Despite the poetry its subtitle promises, the fascinating crows-in-the-skyline doc Tokyo Waka is more informative than lyric, which is not at all a complaint. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Aug 28, 2013

The film is a short, nimble consideration of the collision between the wildness of nature and the orderly bustle of modern urban life. It is also an essay on ornithology, Japanese culture and the challenges of pest control. Read full review

Ronnie Scheib

Sep 5, 2013

“Waka” refers to an ancient form of poetry still widely popular today, and helmers Haptas and Samuelson, through their serene lensing and fluid editing, propose a visual thread linking the past to the present “as the crow flies.” Read full review

Kenji Fujishima

Aug 24, 2013

Its discursiveness does have the intriguing effect of leaving behind a myriad of impressions about its subjects rather than settling on pat interpretations. Read full review

Farran Smith Nehme

Aug 30, 2013

In short, the crows are pests, but the movie shows them great affection, as do the humans who discuss the ways they must accommodate the crows. After a while it is impossible not to admire the birds’ intelligence and resilience, and see that perhaps it’s the other way around: The crows are the ones putting up with us. Read full review

Mark Jenkins

Sep 3, 2013

A waka is a traditional Japanese style of poetry, and this documentary does take a lyrical approach. Although barely an hour long, Tokyo Waka leaves room for offhand observations and humorous asides. Read full review

Andrew Schenker

Aug 27, 2013

While the frequent recourse to talking heads burdens the documentary with a choppy cadence, directors John Haptas and Kristine Samuelson manage to offer moments of great humor. Read full review

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