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The films of Japanese director ‘Hirokazu Koreeda’ are deeply moving. He crafts films that are tragic yet not sensational, blending poignant themes with beautiful cinematography. This article introduces three films by director Hirokazu Kore-eda and recommends them along with synopses and movie scenes. Whether seeking refuge from the noises of the world or desire for moments of family warmth, I recommend these films because of their ability to touch the heart and stir the soul.
"Monster" (kaibutsu), 2023
“There is a monster living in our neighborhood.”
Saori, a single mother, senses something strange in her son Minato's behavior.
“Who is the Monster?”
Meanwhile, Saori learns of the existence of Minato's friend, Yori, who is being ostracized by his friends, and vaguely realizes that the son she knows is different from the son people know... -synopses
This film has a structure in which an incident in Minato is told from three different perspectives: Saori's perspective, Hori-sensei's(Minato's homeroom teacher) perspective, and Minato's perspective. The movie begins with Minato being suspected of being the perpetrator of school violence that bullied Yori and finding out who the real “monster” in this town is. When you start looking for the “monster” in the movie in earnest, all the circumstances may become suspicious. The reason the movie used three people's perspectives is that if you start to find out who the "monster" is among the characters, you will find their flaws. It contains the message that the world is full of monsters, and anyone can become a monster.
"Our Little Sister" (Umimachi Diary), 2015
Sachi, Yoshino, and Chika, who live in the small seaside village of Kamakura, head to the funeral home upon hearing about the passing of their father who left home 15 years ago.
“Suzu, do you want to live with us? Four of us…”- synopses
This movie was based on the 2006 manga <Kamakura Diary> by Akimi Yoshida. It is a story about three sisters living in Kamakura City, Sachi, Yoshino, and Chika, who live together with their half-sister, Suzu, whom they met at their father's funeral. You can feel the family love as the four sisters are connected as a family, and it is a movie that is both ordinary and warmly comforting. This movie is set in Kamakura village, so you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kamakura through the movie, healing both your eyes and your mind.
"Nobody Knows" (Dare mo shiranai), 2004
Before Christmas, their mom left with a note saying she'd make some money and come back. Akira, the 12-year-old eldest son, along with his siblings, Kyoko, Shigeru, and the youngest, Yuki, spend each day waiting for their mom, but even when winter passed and spring came, their mom didn't show up. As time went by, the four kids started relying on each other to get through the tough times when they thought their mom wouldn't come back soon. – synopses
It is one of Koreeda Hirokazu's best works. This movie is based on the “Sugamo Child Neglect Incident” that occurred in Tokyo, Japan in 1988. The true story is much more brutal and tragic than the movie. The movie story is a less tragic adaptation of the true story. This is because director Hirokazu Koreeda focused on the growth of children rather than their tragedy and tried to emphasize the responsibility of society. The title ‘Nobody Knows’ made viewers think more after learning about how children who are not recorded on birth registration live in the movie. In addition, the directing of sunlight continuously shining on children who live without giving up hope creates complex emotions in the audience because the scene looks hopeful on the screen, but the content does not.
Hirokazu Koreeda's films resonate with calm emotion and visible images. They have a power that encourages viewers to stay long after the credits roll. All three recommended movies are good, each has its advantages. Choose a movie that suits your taste and watch it.
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