

In the outskirts of Tokyo, a poor but close-knit group living on the fringes of society survives through shoplifting and odd jobs. When Osamu and his son take in a neglected young girl, their already fragile existence begins to unravel. As the family grows attached to her, buried secrets surface, forcing them to confront the true meaning of love, belonging, and what makes a family.
Acting
Sakura Ando's silent breakdown will wreck you.
Direction
Kore-eda finds beauty in cramped spaces.
Writing
No villains, just broken people trying.

Director
Hirokazu Kore-eda
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Kore-eda cast mostly non-actors from similar backgrounds; the children didn't know the plot, giving reactions documentary-real.
The film directly responds to Japan's rising 'hidden poverty' and elderly crime rates—shoplifting by seniors has doubled since 2003.
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