Movie No. 87 (2016): OUR LITTLE SISTER
Our Little Sister a.k.a. Umimachi Diary (2016)
Hirokazu Kore-eda is a renowned master at observing family dynamics in a Japanese society, which he effectively exhibits on some of his films.
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Cast: Haruka Ayase, Kaho, Masami Nagasawa, Suzu Hirose
In Japanese, with English subtitles
Hirokazu Kore-eda is a renowned master at observing family dynamics in a Japanese society, which he effectively exhibits on some of his films.
Synopsis: Three sisters Sachi, Yoshino, and Chika live together in a large house in the city of Kamakura. When their father, absent from the family home for 15 years, dies, they travel to the countryside for his funeral and meet their shy teenage half-sister. Bonding quickly with the orphaned Suzu, they invite her to live with them. Suzu eagerly agrres, and a new life of joyful discovery begins for the four siblings. - from www.rottentomatoes.com
This film proves that one can be thrilled watching a movie without plot twists, explosions, chase scenes, horror, and sinister sound effects. Here, Kore-eda uses the plum or plum wine metaphor to describe the family's past and present. Even strolling aimlessly on a beach or secret paths or on secret paths on hills, traversing in a tunnel of cherry blossoms, or observing fireworks on a non-moving boat in the sea, suggest deep-seated emotions of the characters. The characters are so real. Their actions are justified. Even the supporting characters are well utilized to make a smooth narrative flow.
Rating: 4.0/4.0
Date seen: December 26, 2016
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