Just perfect...

Absolutely Fantastic

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I caught this film on a United flight in spring 2014 while flying to Japan. It was also recommended to me by a Japanese friend so I believe it has some popularity in the mainland. Without any expectations that were too high, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. The acting, from the parents to the children, was superb. And understanding how Japanese culture can be, it embellished on the role of family vs. work life. The plot was credible and the movie did not have any slow parts. The ending had me in tears though, and it made me think about what I would have done or how I would have acted if I were in the character's shoes. I would recommend this to those who enjoy drama themes (with a little comedy) and those who liked to be moved.

"Work hard now, so there is no struggle later" declares a hard-driving and pushy Dad. As if work makes the man. As if it is so simple. Upon discovering his 6-year-old son was switched at birth, the Dad continues to focus on form and not heart. The family taking care of his real son is everything that he is not; fun-loving, adventuresome, and loving of the natural world. He pools his lawyers and his money in order to prove a point, yet the point proved may be his own demise. Though the story might be better developed in places, the theme is compelling and poignant, the actors are believable, and the disparate characters are intriguing. Winner of a Cannes festival jury prize. This film is about the importance of achieving real connections with others.

I really don't understand what is controversial about this movie. I couldn't relate to the character's so called dilemma. guess you have to be Japanese to understand the conflict. Okay so you find out the kid you are raising is not your kid by birth. The initial realization that someone might have switched your kid with someone else's kid might be shocking but only a completely uncaring parent would disown the child. I really don't see the dilemma.Science has already proved that environment plays a greater role on the development of a young brain than genetics. After the realization is made regarding the origin of the child the choice is obviously an easy one for a caring parent.

What does it mean to be a parent? Are father/son relationships based on DNA or love? In exploring these issues Koreeda produces a sublime, indeed I would say a perfect, film - perfect in every aspect: narrative, characters, acting, filming, soundtrack. All this is achieved in a relatively low key way - no histrionics in terms of story, acting or film making, but this is not to say that the film is unemotional: quite the contrary. Some scenes are devastatingly powerful. The contrast between the two families is brilliantly drawn, and all the characters have depth. Koreeda gives us some wonderful shots - particularly the journeys between the two homes. The scene at the river, where the two families share a picnic at a pivotal moment, is truly great. Father and son sit on the stony shore as the man tries to explain why the boy must leave, while behind them in the river stands an enormous boulder, unmoving yet constantly washed and imperceptibly eroded by the flowing water. The image is obscure but powerful. In sum, it is impossible to overpraise Koreeda who wrote, directed and edited this film.