Shoplifters

Subtitle alert! This is a Japanese film and you will have to read subtitles. Now that most of you have stopped reading, I can continue. I highly recommend this one. It reminded me of some of the family dramas from Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu who happens to be one of my favorite directors. This one is directed by Hirokazu Koreeda and I’m adding several of his films onto my list because I liked this one so much. A family consisting of low level criminals finds a young girl, Yuri, out in the cold at night and takes her home. They sort’ve adopt her into their band of misfits and teach her life skills like shoplifting. The two child actors, Miyu Saski and Jyo Kairi, are phenomenal and I loved every second that they were on screen. The adults in the film are just as compelling with great performances by Lily Franky and Sakura Ando. The low level crooks prove to be very nuanced and can be labeled neither good or bad. So many topics are covered including domestic violence which can often be a tricky thing to tackle. After watching the film I caught myself thinking about what makes you a good person and how not knowing someone’s whole story can drastically alter how you view them. There was a lot to chew on with this one and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you check it out.

Film or Movie: Film
You’ll like this film if:
1. You like Japanese cinema
2. You’re a fan of Ozu or Koreeda
3. You like family dramas