Still Walking

Tender and articulate storytelling devoid of excess. Sometimes less is truly more.

There hasn't had a movie that made me cry so hard without even one crying point. This is very eastern - eastern enough that probably only asians can reach the feelings the director expected.

and one of my all-time favourites. I love Japanese cinema, and own as many Ozu & Kurosawa classics as possible, as I find the attention to quiet detail and the minute, but oh-so important, lovely (and not so lovely) aspects of life calming, centring and fulfilling. It's not a fairytale, by any means, but I've had more family gatherings like this one, with the patriarch throwing tantrums as the other members gossip about each other, worry about how their work (or lack of) or kids, or spouse (or, again, the lack of) will be perceived, the kids assess one another, and the matriarch tries to forget any ugliness by producing seemingly never-ending plates of food, feels "safe" when her refrigerator is packed, so I can relate, no matter how "western" my upbringing. Although he Japanese can seem a little too formal, too rigid in comparison, even balking a bit at just shaking hands before family leave, I'd rather a bit of personal space like this, than the big hugs that are given before my family members get into their respective cars and tear each other apart on the ride home, in front of the kids, via gossip. I highly doubt I'm the only one with a horribly dysfunctional family...right? Haha... The photography is gorgeous, and meaningful, even when the camera is focused on a bathroom faucet, so don't bother renting this, just purchase it, as this new classic is something you'll never tire of viewing; like a sumi ink or water colour painting, you'll find new details to get lost in every time.

A simple story filled with complex emotions. At the end, you feel like you know how and why each of the characters feel about each other. Subtitles are done well.

This movie is beyond amazing. I have seen it a million times and I cried every time. I cried even just watching the trailer. A real tear jerker.

ALREADY A CLASSIC