80
Another quiet delight from Koreeda.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
50
Slant Magazine by Andrew Schenker
The film scores all of its thematic points early, commenting intriguingly, if ultimately rather obviously, on the demands of Japanese patriarchy.
62
The film is starved for the kind of nuance Kore-eda wields effortlessly elsewhere. What’s left without it is something merely schematic.
60
The Hollywood Reporter by Deborah Young
A lovely film that makes little emotional connection.
67
The story works wonderfully as an idea, but Kore-eda never quite manages to infuse it with the same depth of feeling his main character goes through.
60
There’s typical grace and good humour in Kore-eda’s handling of this all-but-impossible situation. But the film’s critical lack of dramatic nuance undercuts its emotional resonance.
100
The Playlist by Kevin Jagernauth
Hirokazu has crafted a warm and lovely film that suggests the easiest thing about raising a child is embracing how complicated it can be.
70
The director retains his controlled style even as he moves toward a more traditional narrative mode.
60
The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw
This is a sweet-natured, but essentially undemanding film from Kore-eda.
100
The Telegraph by Robbie Collin
Kore-eda has crafted a piercing, tender poem about the bittersweet ebb and flow of paternal love, and his status as Ozu's heir becomes ever more assured.
Lily Franky is endlessly watchable, and the paternal mischief that he brought to and perfected in Shoplifters seems to have originated in this wonderful film. Kore-eda has said that in writing he finds himself preoccupied by the question, "What makes a family?" and this film explores that question with great depth and thoughtfulness while focusing on the insular worlds of the two families at its center, whereas Shoplifters is primarily concerned with the relationship of the family unit and each member to the outside world. Kore-eda again gets incredible performances from child actors, performances that greatly enhance the film.
I recently rewatched this film and cried at least three times. Again, Kore-eda is just a master of the simple, quiet moments. This film is heartwrenching and the children just capture your attention every time they're on screen ("Yamato desu" trills the Saikis' youngest child). Each character is beautifully developed and no frame is ever wasted.