I just saw Tokyo Godfathers. Fathom Events had tickets. There was a touching intro before the movie and after the film they showed us behind the scenes on how they did their animation (like taking photos as they walked to really capture the often overlooked nuances of streets and alleys). I am so glad I saw it! Without giving away any spoilers, what I appreciated about the film was the important messages it had; how friends can become our family, facing your past, overcoming challenges, faith, outlook on life, and doing the right thing even if it isn’t the easy thing. It also showed different dimensions to characters, like even if an act or behavior seems inexcusable (and it may be!), there are other aspects of that person that may be good. At the end of the day are we doing what’s best for our loved ones? Do the ends justify the means? Are we just out for ourselves? People run away from their pasts or avoid looking at the parts that are painful, but why? If someone numbs themselves with an addiction or literally runs away from it, whatever they’re hiding from is always with them. Ripping off the band-aid in one swoop is often the best way to deal with things (easier said than done, I know), or going to a therapist if needed, but at least acknowledging the situation is a step in the right direction. Another reason I enjoyed this film, is it showed underrepresented groups like the homeless and the transgender community, just as people. The film did show instances of ignorance, like when a character was attacked because of his way of living. It was infuriating watching the scene. But the film, by letting us understand the characters to such depth, it let us empathize with them in a way that we felt their pain but also their hope, love, and search for forgiveness. The main characters Gin, Hana, Miyuki, and Kiyoko could easily be passed by on a street unnoticed. But why is that? Is it because they fade into the background so easily, or is it because we, and society, fail to see? And if so, why? This film did a remarkable job on making the invisible, visible, and being unapologetic about it.