Yes, I saw Still Walking at a Japanese Film Festival, and the film shows that Koreeda is without a doubt the best successor to renowned directors like Ozu and Naruse, it´s a quiet and meditative family drama and centers around the question how to deal with the death of a beloved person. After seeing all of his films except Air Doll would I still consider Maborosi my favorite, I think it´s his most subtle and beautiful film, and it also displays many hidden meanings. I somehow doubt that Air Doll is going to be similar and maybe wouldn´t be curious to see it if it wasn´t directed by Koreeda.
Nobody Knows.
Nobody Knows seconded.
Maborosi is my favorite. Distance is a close second though. I’ve seen all of Koreeda’s films as well, except for Air Doll. I’m not expecting big things from Air Doll though. Nobody Knows is second-rate Koreeda in my opinion, it certainly does seem to be a crowd pleaser though.
Can’t wait for his last one.
I’d actually think After Life is his crowdpleaser.
In fact,at most After Life, but maybe not. Anyway, The only thing that can’t be said about Nobody Knows is to be crowdpleaser.
Blue K, you’ll be losing thousand of votes in the World Cup, I warrant you! :D
Maybe crowd pleaser was the wrong choice of words. How about accessible? Air Doll might top it though.
I warrant it myself, Dan, lol.
I just read the Air Doll synopsis: A life-size blow-up doll develops a soul and falls in love with a video store clerk. Damn. Sounds like a more interesting version of Lars and the Real Girl. Or maybe Mannequin? It definitely sounds more “commercial” (if that’s the right word).
Maborosi is by far the best film he’s made. Distance is after that, but they don’t even compare, really. Maborosi is maybe one of ten favourite films. After Life is interesting enough, and both Nobody Knows, and Hana are really second rate. Poppy commercial films. I’m excited for Still Walking… not so much for Air Doll, but I’ll see both.
Since Maborosi, none have affected me in the same way. “After Life” is a captivating experience. I loved the idea upon which its based. “Nobody Knows” didn’t impress me so much, though it is still a fine effort. I haven’t seen “Air Doll”. It’s so difficult to get a film off the ground, what choice does he or any other filmmaker have? He wants to continue working. “Air Doll” still sounds like an art thing, but approachable rather than recondite.
I have only seen three of his films and After Life is my favorite. Nobody Knows is more affecting and Maborosi is beautiful but meandering. After Life is charming, clever and thought-provoking.
It even inspired me to create a discussion which has remained very popular.
I don’t see Maborosi as meandering. It’s completely focused in its presentation and story. I don’t see a single scene that doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the main message and point of the film.
Meandering may not be the right word. How about ‘drawn out’?
Maborosi is damn near a perfect film. I really cannot think of any other film that captures the essence of “Japaneseness” better than that film. The unwillingness or the inability to communicate… Japan may be the most technologically advanced nation on earth, but its society does not foster interpersonal communication.
Really, Blue? That’s high praise. I find this to be a situation that is examined in the novels of Natsuo Kirino, in addition to other more unsavory examples of Japanese life.
Blue K’s absolutely right. That unwillingness to communicate translates perfectly into an exploration of grief, and ultimate acceptance. Even at the end of the film you don’t see Esumi’s acceptance of her late husband’s death as her willing to talk about it, but rather as her just not thinking about it, and moving past it. There is no real resolution in the film.
Well, it’s only my opinion, but it is high praise, indeed. Maborosi definitely deserves it in my mind.
Top 3:
1. After Life
2. Marborosi
3. Hana: Tale of a Reluctant Warrior
Interesting choices. Perhaps I like Maboroshi a inch more than After Life. One thing I find interesting is that the original Japanese title of the film is 幻の光/Maboroshi no Hikari which translates something like phantasmic light. I’m dying to see Still Walking. It’s still not available on region 1, is it? Air Doll could be his most commercial film, but also his most ambitious. The snobs at Cannes didn’t seem to like it too much (I don’t really trust Cannes these days). Their were mixed reviews and many critics seemed to point that although film is visually pleasing, it’s a bit diffused and lacks a narrative. I don’t care what they say and I think it’ll be a great film. I think many critics dismiss the Japanese notion that Hirokazu displays: his films attempt to epitomize (what I think is) the major theme of his work: a conscientious Japan (and globe) in the center of expeditious modernization whose occupants often fail to attain true intimacy. Similar to the author Haruki Murakami, Hirokazu often presents a sense of absurdity and pathos in the quotidian lives of his characters. They really should do a Hirokazu retrospective and include his documentary works.
Maborosi… It’s indescribably great. An utterly amazing debut.
I haven’t yet seen Distance though. :(
>They really should do a Hirokazu retrospective and include his documentary works.
Yep! I want to see them, too!
Important news about Koreeda! From the 21st August to the 1st of September, at the BAMcinématek in NY, a Koreeda retrospective will take place; it will show all his films including his first untraceable documentaries!
Event
Oh man, I wish I was in NY… Enjoy, lucky New Yorkers.
Wow, I would love to see his early documentaries. I won´t make it to NY though, it would be nice if those who have seen them at the retrospective could come back to this thread and tell us about them.
I’ll be there incidentally in that period (!!!) so really can’t wait.
Great. We’ll give you a full report!
Great dicussions lead to great retrospectives. Thanks for the info Dan.
Any other NY Auteurs want to meet up for coffee before/after a showing? Would love to discuss the films with another Kore-eda afficionado.
Tristan P. Teshigahara
It’s a tough call for me because I love all of his films so far. If I had to choose It would be a tie between After Life and Maborosi with Nobody Knows as my second favorite. How about you guys? Did any of you get a chance to see Still Walking or Air Doll?