This review may contain spoilers
Do we have to share blood to be family?
A strong performance from Kore-eda on the meaning of family. In this story of personal growth and lament we see a overly strict father find his family's worth. The idea of a child being switched at birth is fairly common in Asia drama, so I wasn't too keen on seeing it again. But thankfully this plot wasn't too hard on the emotions.
I can honestly say I didn't like father character at all. So bravo to the actor lol. Even in the end, I didn't like how it turned out for him. Ryota goes for very minuit changes so it's hard to really feel strongly in my opinion about his change of heart. The actor rightfully showed diverse ways to ignore his other actors on screen, making him to be really dislikable lol. He barely looked at people as he talked and I was livid.
But that's what so great about his portrayal. The other actors all felt more akin to "proper" parents. His wife Midori showed a very docile wife burdened by years of servitude. I appreciated that they called out traditional motherhood issues in Japanese society very subtly. She had a warmth to her child rearing but a tinge of fear because of Ryota's demands. The scene where she confronts him over his love of Keita was the best scene in the movie.
The other two parents felt more loving and caring about their children despite the way Ryota felt. Even though Yudai was seen as a money grubbing sleezebag, he felt like he cared much more about his children then Ryota ever did. The difference in interactions with both families really spoke to that. In a way I felt a little sad about Keita's upbringing because it seemed so strict and structured. But hopefully we see a glimpse of the family changing to better support allowing to live out his childhood. Yukari I thought felt very matronly and had a real repertoire with the children actors. She felt really sincere and positive.
Many of the scenes I feel drew attention to lifelines and growth. From the dad working as an architect to the artificial forest that housed many wildlife. The powerlines seen connecting area to area in one car scene I felt were like the red string of fate that connects people. All the little things in this movie were guiding principles of family.
It reminded us that things connect and grow no matter where they begin. The idea of family not connected by blood but by heart is a reoccurring theme in his movies. Not to mention also generational trauma passed down from father to son. The pushing of hobbies onto Keita at the behest of his father and the attempt to live up to Ryota's standards all felt very familiar to any child.
The traditional family structure VS the non traditional being explored in small details was great in this movie. I thought it was no better showcased then to both families reaction to Keita's injury. Or how both fathers reacted to fixing toys. Yudai allowing his children to watch and see the process of fixing rather then Ryota trying to hide his lack of skill and telling Ryuusei to buy another with his mother. There was a real subtleness in how this depicted their care style.
I think this movie will probably be more geared towards people who have children already. It will probably resonate more with them. However people who have family issues with their parents may find a little something to think about it.
I can honestly say I didn't like father character at all. So bravo to the actor lol. Even in the end, I didn't like how it turned out for him. Ryota goes for very minuit changes so it's hard to really feel strongly in my opinion about his change of heart. The actor rightfully showed diverse ways to ignore his other actors on screen, making him to be really dislikable lol. He barely looked at people as he talked and I was livid.
But that's what so great about his portrayal. The other actors all felt more akin to "proper" parents. His wife Midori showed a very docile wife burdened by years of servitude. I appreciated that they called out traditional motherhood issues in Japanese society very subtly. She had a warmth to her child rearing but a tinge of fear because of Ryota's demands. The scene where she confronts him over his love of Keita was the best scene in the movie.
The other two parents felt more loving and caring about their children despite the way Ryota felt. Even though Yudai was seen as a money grubbing sleezebag, he felt like he cared much more about his children then Ryota ever did. The difference in interactions with both families really spoke to that. In a way I felt a little sad about Keita's upbringing because it seemed so strict and structured. But hopefully we see a glimpse of the family changing to better support allowing to live out his childhood. Yukari I thought felt very matronly and had a real repertoire with the children actors. She felt really sincere and positive.
Many of the scenes I feel drew attention to lifelines and growth. From the dad working as an architect to the artificial forest that housed many wildlife. The powerlines seen connecting area to area in one car scene I felt were like the red string of fate that connects people. All the little things in this movie were guiding principles of family.
It reminded us that things connect and grow no matter where they begin. The idea of family not connected by blood but by heart is a reoccurring theme in his movies. Not to mention also generational trauma passed down from father to son. The pushing of hobbies onto Keita at the behest of his father and the attempt to live up to Ryota's standards all felt very familiar to any child.
The traditional family structure VS the non traditional being explored in small details was great in this movie. I thought it was no better showcased then to both families reaction to Keita's injury. Or how both fathers reacted to fixing toys. Yudai allowing his children to watch and see the process of fixing rather then Ryota trying to hide his lack of skill and telling Ryuusei to buy another with his mother. There was a real subtleness in how this depicted their care style.
I think this movie will probably be more geared towards people who have children already. It will probably resonate more with them. However people who have family issues with their parents may find a little something to think about it.
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