"If someone hits you and tells you they are doing it because they love you, they are a liar."
- Nobuyo Shibata

Wow.

The incredibly bland intro from IMDB does nothing for this movie: "A family of small-time crooks take in a child they find outside in the cold." This movie is not about small time crooks. It's about life, love, loss, family and regret. Oh, and a few other bat-shit-crazy things that I'll leave in the shadows for you to discover later.

This beautifully filmed piece of socially-fueled gorgeousness builds a terrific bond with the Shibota family as they struggle through life with really not very much, except for each other. Despite the financial hardship, these are seemingly good people just trying to make it with what they have. There's no bitterness or jealousy on show, just an honest push to make the most of their life.

When they come across little Yuri, who is in an even more lonely and dangerous situation, they don't hesitate to help. To avoid spoilers I'll just say it's not the regular kind of help you'd imagine, but it makes a real difference to this little sweethearts world. And by the way, she is just soooooo cute!

But then, wait! Hang on I did not see that coming! Hold the phones Mr twisty-turny. OK, shit just got real as the backstory is now starting to be peeled away layer by layer. The way that Hirokazu Kore-eda delivers the end result is really clever in what I'd describe as an intense and extremely smart piece of writing and directing.

Japanese cinema often has a way of really sucking you in to the central themes of the story so you are entirely absorbed by what is happening. This is another great example, where the genuineness (if that's a word) of the characters makes it so easy to get attached that when something bad does happen, it has a real emotional impact.

I'm a little drained after that, but feel glad to have discovered this wonderful film. It's a re-watcher for sure.

Watched as part of Scavenger Hunt #62 | May 2020 - #1/31