Japanese
After Life /1998/Japanese
FiC Rating 4/5
Dir: Hirokazu Koreeda
Why FiC recommends?
1) Its not a movie rather a meditation on a life.
2) Its an ode to Memories and nostalgia and a perfect filmakers movie but only to be set up in surreal scenario.
3) Though Koreeda explores the theme of after life never makes his viewers miss the realistic experience on screen as most of his character behave and act naturally which is very unusual in the movies that deal with similar subject.
The Third Murder/2017/Japanese
FiC Rating 4/5
Dir: Hirokazu Koreeda
Why FiC recommends?
1) This court room drama presents the slice of game about truth and perception.
2) The Third Murder is totally in different spectrum in comparision to Koreeda’s regular family drama.
3) the way Shigemori gets consumed by the case equally absorbs its viewers into its athematic tangle.
After the Storm/2016/Japanese
FiC Rating 4.5/5
Dir: Hirokazu Koreeda
Why FiC recommends?
1) “Simplicity” is the one word review for this movie
2) Its a soft, breezy story of the character and his perseverance that has lost its tenacity and the way world around him has started to look at his deeds.
3) “Are you who you wanted to be?” – “I am not who I wanted to be YET” – After the Storm
Still Walking/2008/Japanese
FiC Rating 5/5
Dir: Hirokazu Koreeda
Why FiC recommends?
1) Memories are indeed the most heaviest, this movie is all about that and the way every characters sway with those past memory in present.
2) A proper definition of ‘Slice of Life’, entire movie unveils as the family reminiscent the long lost son as everyone gather and speak, eat and play together.
3) One could connect with those characters irrespective of cultural differene, we have seen similar characters in our life, certain behavioural trait or the reaction are universal.
Our Little Sister/2015/Japanese
FiC Rating 5/5
Dir: Hirokazu Koreeda
Why Fic recommends?
1) A tale of acceptance and welcoming that beautifully brings varied characters on its canvas reflecting a thorough character study.
2) Koreeda is the master in bringing up intricate nostaligic references in the narration, this piece of work is rich in similar references.
Shoplifters/2018/Japanese
FiC Rating 5/5
Dir: Hirokazu Koreeda
Why Fic recommends?
1) Powerful story that unveils the immanent power of bond, love and relationship.
2) Movie that depicts the beauty in imperfection, incompleteness and vulnerability in the dysfunctional family which has a dark but not so important truth wthin only untile they fall into the radar of society.
3) Top notch peformance by every cast members uplifts the viewing experience.
I Wish/2011/Japanese
FiC Rating 4/5
Dir: Hirokazu Koreeda
Why Fic recommends?
1) Unsnarling the world of children Koreeda here explores the innocence and modesty of children in which he has become the master with each of his works.
2) Story that builds its pillar upon the foundation of belief and innocence slowly also touches the innate urge of children to live with family happily.
3) As always child artists in Koreeda’s movie are very natural and effortless with their performance here too.
Like Father, Like Son/2013/Japanese
FiC Rating 5/5
Dir: Hirokazu Koreeda
Why Fic recommends?
1) Is there something like ‘Good Parenting’ or ‘Bad Parenting’ or is it just a perspective ?
2) Beautiful story that raises questions and decision between valuing moral conflicts and hereditary lineage.
3) Delicate story on how parental figures imapact over child’s personality and behavioural carving meanwhile also sensitively depicting Japan’s competitive upbringing.
Nobody Knows/2004/Japanese
FiC Rating 5/5
Dir: Hirokazu Koreeda
Why FiC recommends?
1) Honest potrayal of child modesty and innocence and self tackle between chilhood bliss and situational responsibility.
2) Specially to be watched for brilliant performance by all child artists, camera in the movie seems like just another character that captures everyday happeneing of the children.
3) Koreeda respects viewer’s intelligence with “Dont tell, Show” approach in course of giving importance to every intricacies especially while denoting fly of time.
Antiporno/2016/Japan
FiC Rating 5/5
Dir: Sion Sono
Why FiC Recommends?
1) As a film that delves into the realm of kinks and fetishes emblematic to it’s assertive title, Antiporno is sexually provocative but a feeding frenzy of chaos that paints a nauseating portrait of exploitation of women at it’s core.
2) Nikkatsu Studio offered Sono to direct a film in the reboot of Roman Porno series which had quite a prolific run in the 70s and 80s and here is Sono charging his project with rage and anguish and presenting a scathing critique of the entire project in the impression of a sexual exploitation flick.
3) Antiporno is as much a howl of a director being disgusted with sexploitation flicks as it is an arresting visual essay about women’s liberty and fake perception of their freedom, Sono deconstructs cinema as a voyeuristic medium.
Ame agaru ( After the Rain ) / 1999 / Japanese
FiC Rating: 4/5
Dir: Takashi Koizumi
Setting: Rural
Why FiC recommends?
1) A drama by Takashi Koizumi from a scenario written by “Akira Kurosawa” shortly before his death and made as a tribute to him, No where near as good as it would have been with Kurosawa behind it but fine nonetheless, especially the cinematography which was gorgeous. Any fan of Akira Kurosawa will want to see this.
2) If you want a peaceful and beautiful samurai film, do yourself and your immortal soul a favour; this movie is for you, would really recommend it, this one is a lesser known Japanese gem.