What it’s about
Sachi (Ayase) and her two sisters Yoshino (Nagasawa) and Chika (Kaho) live and work in Kamakura. Their father ran off with another woman years ago, and shortly afterwards, their mother left too, leaving them in the care of their grandmother. When they learn of their father’s death, they travel to Yamagata for his funeral, where they meet their teenage half-sister Suzu (Hirose). Impulsively Sachi invites the orphaned Suzu to come live with them. Just what will come of this unexpected arrangement?
Why we love it
This delicate, bucolic story is adapted from a “manga” about family, and aligns perfectly with Kore-eda’s focus on small daily moments and powerful emotions lurking just beneath the surface. His observational style and the gently meandering plot carry the viewer on a journey of discovery as the quotidian accumulates into the meaningful. The actresses are mesmerizing, and you’ll never tire of the beauty of the changing seasons in this award-winning portrait of love and life.