Our Little Sister (2016)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This is your typical example of "The Emperor's New Clothes"If you have better and more important things to do, this is not a film to watch. You're really not missing anything by skipping this film. It's one of those sleeper films that you'd play during midnight and eventually fall asleep to. Don't get me wrong, I was actually excited to watch this, but I mean seriously, somebody has to speak out the truth -- this is really just your average movie where nothing really happens. So it has a cute cast, especially Suzu Hirose, and it's by a well known acclaimed director (seems where most of the bias is coming from), but there's no real suspense/drama/conflict or anything. It's just like another overrated film "Linda Linda Linda", where nothing really happens, but people seem to love it just because of the girls.One might argue, "Well, it's showing the real life day in the life of that Hollywood can never make!" Well, of course they won't make something like this because it's just simply boring; just showing sisters taking care of each other is absolutely boring. (I mean, honestly, I don't care for Hollywood blockbuster/action films/especially all the superhero movies either, I'm obviously not expecting that, but I also watch a lot of foreign/Japanese films and this really is overrated stuff.) Sure, to a foreigner, just seeing the countryside location taking place in Kamakura, Japan, and random bike riding scenes under the cherry blossoms is all beautiful and all, but that's all superficial. Where's the story? Too many Weeaboos, or people exclusively watching this at film festivals, overpraising this film than what it really is.

According to IMDb, the director/screenplay writer Hirokazu Koreeda had Ozu and his style of directing in mind when he made this film. I agree that it is in some ways...though not all. First, like Ozu's films, this is a family story about people and it's a bit slow...or, more accurately, deliberate. Second, often the director uses a camera at floor level...like Ozu. But the film isn't strictly like this famed director, as the camera does not remain stationary and there are some outdoor shots which aren't exactly Ozu-like. None of this is meant to be derogatory...just some observations.The film begins with the death of three adults sisters' step-mother. They had no love for her, as their father left their mother for this other woman. But it also creates a problem...they have a half sister, Sozu*, from this marriage and the teenage girl now has no one...only three sisters she doesn't even know. Well, the three decide to move into their grandmother's old house and take care of Sozu. Through the course of the film, you learn about the three girls' mother, the guilt Sozu is unnecessarily carrying and what a sweet girl she is...and what a welcome addition she is to the family.There's no way around it..."Our Little Sister" is a slow film. But I didn't mind because it was handled so well--with lovely direction, some terrific acting and some very, very sweet moments...particularly at the end. Plus seeing how the angriest sister dealt with their mother was fascinating. All in all, a terrific film...but because of its pace, it's not for everyone.*Throughout the film, the English captions sometimes called the girl 'Sozu' and other times 'Suzu'. I am not sure which one is correct.

The Japanese film Umimachi Diary was shown in the U.S. with the title Our Little Sister (2015). Hirokazu Koreeda directed the movie.Haruka Ayase plays Sachi Kôda, one of three young-adult sisters living in a home owned by their mother. The other sisters are Yoshino, played by Masami Nagasawa, and Chika, played by Kaho. These actors look enough like each other to be sisters, and they are realistic characters. Each has her own personality, and, like any three people living together, they squabble.Their mother has abandoned them 14 years ago, so Sachi has been both mother and sister to them. As the movie opens, we learn that their father has died. The sisters go to the father's funeral, and meet their half-sister Suzu, who is portrayed very well by the young actor Suzu Hirose. She is their father's daughter, but she is the daughter of his second wife. He has married a third time. Now, she is an orphan, although her step-mother could provide for her. Instead, the three sisters invite her to come and live with them.The remainder of the movie is a calm reflection of Suzo's integration into the family. She actually knows their father better than any of the three older sisters, because she was with him from her birth until his death. So the older women ask her for more information about the father. Information about ancestors is important to the Japanese, and we see this theme repeated throughout the film.The movie was interesting to me because there was no fiery revelations, no scenes of caustic criticism, and no horribly sad moments. We follow the women through two years of life, and we get to know them and care about them.I learned the some facts about Japanese culture that I didn't know. For example, the spiritual importance of cherry blossoms, and the ritual of making plum wine.The acting was uniformly excellent. All the sisters are attractive in a low-key way. Haruka Ayase, the oldest sister, has been described as one of the most beautiful women on the planet, and I think this is true. However, what is striking about her in the movie is her calm, competent, dignified presence. She looks intelligent and caring, which is what her role calls for.This is a movie worth seeking out. We saw it in Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. It won't work as well on the small screen. Still, It's an outstanding movie, Don't miss it.

All the Hollywood directors producing one comic-book sequel after the other (and all other directors as well) should see this film, they should turn away in shame, and quit directing. Movie is largely seen as a medium to entertain, yet it could be so much more.Watching this movie, in every scene, it is incomprehensible for a western viewer how it is filmed: There are only daily life scenes, nothing dramatic, yet it is such a heart-warming experience, a simple joy of watching people living their lives.The story follows 3 very different grown-up sisters who live independently in a big house. The father has left them when they were little, and now they learn that they yet have another little sister. Soon their little dormitory has an additional guest. The main characters are the youngest sister who tries to adapt to her new life, and the oldest sister who is determined to live her life lead by strength and kindness.Critics have compared Kore-eda with Ozu, because of his calm observation of life. Still, Ozu's films contain great sadness, while Kore-eda's movies ('Like Father,Like Son', 'Kiseki') are full of hope and joy for living. They show simple people trying to find happiness in life. It has a Zen-like quality: one doesn't need big dramatic events to show love and kindness, if you are looking close enough you will find it in the most ordinary things in daily life.This is one of the best movies I've ever seen.