A Normal Life. Chronicle of a Sumo Wrestler (2009) User Reviews

Takes you to Japan

[ferrie-marie · 8/10 · 6 July 2015]

Last year, I attended Nagoya Sumo Competition. It was an incredible moment. I've never thought I would like watching big babies fighting on the stage. For one week, Nagoya was full of those half-gods. I loved it. I got crazy for non-Japanese sumoroti. Immediately, I wanted to know more about the very secret sumo sphere. "Tu seras sumo" gave it to me.

"Tu seras sumo" is more of a documentary than a movie. It takes you to the guts though. I've lived this experience with the young Takuya, at this so Japanese pace, with the savor of Tokyo and Nagoya on my tongue. A classical to watch, for the ones who wants to taste Japan authenticity.

Gripping and somber

[Nicolesbunny88 · 7/10 · 27 January 2019]

This is quite a good film about the harsh realities of giving your life to one single thing, and the sobering reality that this one thing may not be enjoyable or ideal. Takuya's struggle, joy, disappointment and desire to succeed is heartfelt. Definitely worth an hour and a half of your life!

A tough sport for a young kid

[Dandeleo · 9/10 · 26 December 2021]

This is an interesting and entertaining - not always in a good way - view of the reality of a young guy, Takuya Ogushi, graduating high school and being pressured by his family and community into a career as a sumo wrestler. Not sure he really wants this life, away from the 'normal' lives of his old friends, he embarks upon his new life in the cloistered, in many ways archaic, world of a sumo stable.

The training, the restrictions and the isolation from what he knew are offset by the new camaraderie, friendships, and the goals of perfecting his training and winning in competition.

Although he progresses well enough, he doubts he is cut out for the sumo world and eventually decides to run away to resume a 'normal' life.

Well worth watching on many levels; as a coming of age story, as a cultural tale of the sumo world, and as a story about driving ambition - and not having it - and following the ambition of those around you instead.

(although anyone who follows sumo will tell you that Kyokutaisei Takuya has been fighting in the top divisions since 2014, so I would love to have seen a sequel to show why and how he returned to the stable and sumo that he had rejected).