Japanese (subtitles)
114 minutes
2008
4 Stars
How a modern and dysfunctional family copes with the annual
gathering to commemorate the death of the number one son and heir. This is a
slow movie, intimate, with sadness and humor in about equal amounts. It is by
the same director as After Life, and very well done, the reason 4 stars instead
of 5? I'm not sure why it was made. The boy drowned saving the life of another,
who is invited (and therefore must come) to the annual commemoration of the
death, adding to his survivor's guilt, and feeding the mother's hatred. Family
dynamics remain the same in most cultures, some more extreme than others, and
this is a good look into a dysfunctional family, and how various members cope
with their sorrow. It flows beautifully, and there is enough humor it does not
become morbid.
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