Like Father, Like Son
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Directed by:
Hirokazu Kore'edaScreenplay:
Hirokazu Kore'edaCinematography:
Mikiya TakimotoCast:
Masaharu Fukuyama, 尾野真千子, Yôko Maki, Lily Franky, Keita Ninomiya, Shôgen Hwang, Kirin Kiki, Jun Fubuki, 夏八木勲, Yu-ri Sung, 井浦新, Jun Kunimura, ピエール瀧, Kazuya TakahashiVOD (1)
Plots(1)
Ryota has earned everything he has by his hard work, and believes nothing can stop him from pursuing his perfect life as a winner. Then one day, he and his wife, Midori, get an unexpected phone call from the hospital. Their 6-year-old son, Keita, is not 'their' son - the hospital gave them the wrong baby. Ryota is forced to make a life-changing decision, to choose between 'nature' and 'nurture.' Seeing Midori's devotion to Keita even after learning his origin, and communicating with the rough yet caring family that has raised his natural son for the last six years, Ryota also starts to question himself: has he really been a 'father' all these years... The moving story of a man who finally faces himself when he encounters an unexpected wall for the first time in his life. (Wild Bunch Distribution)
(more)Reviews (3)
The screenplay is far ahead - a complex, delicate, yet with a uniquely-balancing serious theme and humor, overlap and a personal story. A critical and sentimental family story from contemporary Japan, which most evoked Farhadi’s A Separation in Karlovy Vary this year. Beware: the mere "friendliness" is easily confused with the depth and richness of the topics involved. An inconspicuous gem.
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A baby switch from a distinguished Japanese perspective. Two families with a different social status standing before a Sophie’s Choice of the modern world. Giving up their assumed son for their real six-year-old son brought up in completely different (not just) social conditions? Can they love him as much? Acted, written and filmed sensitively, touchingly, without Koreeda using an instant of blackmail, but quite the opposite, remaining nicely down-to-earth. The only thing is, I would have perhaps welcomed greater focus on the other family; although I understand the author’s decision to view things mainly from Ryota’s perspective, and so this isn’t a mistake in this case but clear (and functional) intention, but still it’s a shame.
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Maybe an overlong painful film. As I've talked to the people who saw it with me, the mothers got properly shaken. It's sensitively filmed, the acting is Japanese standard, the music is nice, the story is soul-wrenching if you sympathize with the situation, which will be easy for many parents. Everything floats along so nicely and you're still not sure if the kids will really be switched anyway. A powerful human drama and a strong 3 stars.
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