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
Lily Franky
Osamu Shibata
Sakura Ando
Nobuyo Shibata
Mayu Matsuoka
Aki Shibata
Kairi Jo
Shota Shibata
Miyu Sasaki
Yuri
Kirin Kiki
Hatsue Shibata
Sosuke Ikematsu
4 Ban-san
Naoto Ogata
Yuzuru Shibata
Yōko Moriguchi
Yoko Shibata
Yuki Yamada
Yasu Hojo
Moemi Katayama
Nozomi Hojo
Kengo Kora
Takumi Maezono
Chizuru Ikewaki
Kie Miyabe
Akira Emoto
Yoritsugu Kawado
Aju Makita
Sayaka Shibata
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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