penel

Agreed! They're both among the top war movies (which isn't really my fave genre, but a masterpiece is always a masterpiece!), though I have a soft spot for Bowie as a musician and performer and Sakamoto Ryuichi's music ❤
That whistling theme though...

Reading your top-notch articles is always a great fun - and a chance to add new movies in my PTW lists!

I haven't watched many of Kitano's works, but like you, my most fave is "A Scene at the Sea"! A wonderful experience.
"Dolls" is definitely not for everyone, but the intriguing cinematography and eerie atmosphere were worth the watch.

One of his best movies as an actor, and one of my 10/10, is "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence" with David Bowie and the wonderful music of Sakamoto Ryuichi ♥

A poignant, autobiographical tale of a Korean-Japanese family running a small restaurant, 'Yakiniku Dragon'.
Their bonding, struggles, cultural exchange barriers and everyday life banters are depicted in a unique blend of bleak, touching, intense and humorous moments.
With excellent performances (especially from the parents) despite the bilingual issues, superb cinematography and a successful combination of drama elements from both countries, the outcome is an intriguing, sophisticated and very enjoyable watch.

Sexy, funny, colourful and absolutely hilarious, with two great FLs and so many familiar faces!
A very enjoyable adult sex comedy with many humorous, heartwarming and steamy moments xD

A melancholic, bittersweet romantic time-travelling story about love that transcends time and space. Not very original and cliche-free, but an enjoyable watch.
Its strongest points were Lee Hong Chi, the cinematography and color palette, and the great scenery from Prague.

"Children can’t control parents, just like parents can’t control children."

"Everyone may seem to live differently, but whether it is you or me, we are living in the same world."

A road trip movie about three estranged siblings, their reconciliation, their healing, their secrets and past, their ties, and a study of the meaning of family, family bonding and acceptance.

A heartwarming coming-of-age story with a wonderful friendship, a great bromance and two lovable, very talented young actors :)

A fast-paced, intriguing, well-written and genre-balanced drama.
With lots of suspense, mystery and fantasy elements, heartwarming stories and a proper closure.
No unnecessary or annoying characters or subplots, no dragging, no typical cliches.
OCN at its best!

Filmed at a real-life psychiatric hospital, this film is a sensitive approach to institutionalisation and mental illness, though it gives some very strong, emotional gut punches.
Shofukutei Tsurube and Ayano Go were excellent as usual, while Komatsu Nana was surprisingly much better than expected, giving a convincing and layered performance.

A wonderful story about family and bonding, coming of age, war, overcoming loss and grieve, and one of the most beautiful love stories I've seen in a long while between Suzu and Shusaku.
With a magnificent music score from Joe Hisaishi, a brilliant cinematography and depiction of rural Japan during the WW2 and superb performances, this underrated, criminally unnoticed drama was so painfully touching, inspiring and bittersweet! A pure 10/10 in my list.

A 'difficult', dark, heavy, bitter story that starts quietly but after a while explodes with a powerful emotional force, leaving us jolted out of our seats.
Quirky, daring and intriguing story, wisely used cold and white colors depicting perfectly the greyish lifeless atmosphere and stellar, emotionally charged performances (especially from Chang Chen in his role as the suicidal convict Jin).
A mixture of poetic tenderness and cruelness, pleasure and emptiness, passion and apathy, freedom and imprisonment, life and death.

Such an interesting article about the underrated weekend family dramas!
I've watched and enjoyed all of the dramas you mentioned.

My 10/10 are 'Smile, You' (my 1st family drama) and 'Five Enough'.
Family dramas not included in your list that I've rated with 8.5/10 and above are:
'New Tales of Gisaeng', 'The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop', 'Glorious Day', 'My Golden Life', 'Ojakgyo Brothers'.

Special mention: 'Gloria' - a very underrated, not typical weekend family drama, with Bae Doo Na!

Brilliantly heartwarming!

Ueda's much anticipated follow-up movie is a funny, lighthearted and brilliantly acted story (especially from Oosawa Kazuto) about brotherly love and overcoming fears. The element of surprise was unfortunately missing but, even tough less inventive, it's still uniquely compelling, with an ending that was definitely rewarding and inspiring.

Heavy, dark, overwhelming revenge drama with excellent performances from both main leads.

Uniquely bizarre, refreshingly entertaining, with perfectly-balanced funny, emotional and deep moments, this zany drama has one of the best and most natural (well... almost natural xD) representations of real life issues and problems modern women have to deal with, without being overly dramatic or preachy, as well as a satisfying character development many 'more serious' dramas should be jealous of.
One of a kind drama, totally recommended!

Thanks again @HPriest for subbing this little gem xD

A heavy, odd, eerie, intriguing and artistic film with an impressive combination of music and cinematography. The stunning white and cold snowy mountain scenes and the dark and warm interior set make a brilliant symbolic contrast.
With only a little dialogue and some worth noting quotes, an outstanding performance from Eita and a unique depiction of his heartbreaking inner conflict with his angelic and demonic monsters, this film may not be for everyone, but it's definitely worth it for the 'unconventional' movie lovers.

Eerie, just like its name suggests, dark and suspenseful, with a clever and solid plot, intense and captivating music and cinematography that enhanced brilliantly the viewers' curiosity and tension.
Raw emotions derived from power greed, desires, deception, infidelity, bullying, loss and loneliness, but also trust, acceptance, escape and hope were perfectly conveyed.
A hidden gem mystery drama, definitely recommended!

What an interesting and funny subject you chose, what an awesome bonding you have!
Thank you both for this refreshing and very entertaining article xD

A slow-paced, comforting and healing movie (adapted from the homonymous novel by Banana Yoshimoto) about overcoming breakups and dead-ends in life with the help of strangers' kindness, warmth and acceptance.