I didn't expect this film to affect me as much as it did. Honestly, I woke up in the middle of the night feeling quite disturbed about it. No doubt because it made me think of the real life events, but the faces of the child actors also stuck to my memory and disturbance.
Several things were already obvious befor being explained thanks to the great script and direction, making it less powerful and a little redundant at times. But assuming it's less of a lack of confidence on the audience and more of a wish to be understandable even for little children, I enjoyed the good acting, the exact dose of dramaticity and coped with the great number of cuts and unecessary happy songs.
Posiblemente la mejor película oriental (¡no me gusta nada el cine oriental!) que he visto en los últimos años. Se acerca bastante a la categoría de obra maestra.
Technically it's a very different approach for Kore-Eda, but still manages to keep his quiet fundamental nature. It can get a little too sentimental at times, but is still a very simple and well observed heart breaker. Yuki is just too cute for words!
Very beautiful, yet tragic movie. The saddest part for me was watching Akira; he struggled with having to be responsible, yet also wanting to be a kid. And when he finally found the kid in him and played baseball for the first time, having fun and being without worry for the first time in a long while, that tragic accident happens at home with his sister, and he has to act grown up again, and face the same hardships
Once I read about the true story behind this film I lost a bit of respect for it. The reality of the situation was much worse--there was a dead baby in a closet and the youngest girls (two) was beaten and killed and buried by one of the oldest boy's friends. Taking a story that has that much impact and watering it down that much is a shame. I'd like to hear the reasoning behind that.
I wondered about that too, although it didn't impact my reaction to the film. Perhaps the truth was simply too grisly and maybe even distracting or overpowering for the drama Koreeda was trying to capture? Plus if they filmed the detail about the dead baby being kept in the apartment for years, or having young Yuki savagely beaten, I think it would have been traumatizing for the young performers (all non-actors at the time).
I feel like there were parts of this movie that didn't quite do it for me in believability (I know that it is based on a true story though). It is very heartbreaking regardless. I think I remember crying at the scene in the very everyday cafe in Tokyo where Akira and his mother are wearing very typical clothes...they don't look any different than anyone else in Tokyo really... then Akira asks his mother so purely and innocently why he can't go to school.
I don't think children from this kind of broken background would really be so adorable, or so accepting of their situation for such a long time. Surely they would try to do SOMETHING? Their morals are so strong to stop them from stealing, even when they are in such dire need? I think the actions of a lot (all?) of the characters are a bit unrealistic. Someone would report this! Their friend at least? The landlord?
