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Our Little Sister
海街diary
2015 127 min Japan PG 6+
★7.8
Drama
Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
💬 Based on the comic
«Umimachi Diary»
byAkimi Yoshida
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
After the death of their estranged father, 3 adult sisters invite their teenaged half-sister to live with them.
US Gross:
$467,555
Worldwide:
$346,485
Starring
Haruka Ayase
Actor
Masami Nagasawa
Actor
Kaho
Actor
Awards
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2015
— Audience Award – Best Film
Cannes Film Festival 2015
— Palme d'Or
Asian Film Academy 2016
— Best Actress
Asian Film Academy 2016
— Best Director
Key opinion
Our Little Sister is a meditative and tender exploration of family dynamics and sisterly bonds, celebrated for its atmospheric depiction of coastal Japanese life. While most viewers find its slow pace deeply moving and immersive, some critics argue the narrative lacks sufficient drama and struggles to balance character development.
| Cinematography | The film excels as a visual and sensory experience, capturing the beauty of seasonal changes and the tranquility of life in Kamakura. | |
| Theme | The narrative effectively portrays the quiet evolution of family bonds, emphasizing forgiveness and solidarity over traditional dramatic conflict. | |
| Direction | Kore-eda’s direction creates a profoundly immersive, atmospheric world that prioritizes mood and subtle observation over conventional plot progression. | |
| Pacing | The patient, contemplative pacing rewards viewers looking for a meditative experience, though it strikes others as tedious and lacking in narrative momentum. | |
| Screenplay | The character work creates an authentic portrait of sisterhood, though there is disagreement regarding whether all four sisters receive balanced and fully realized development. |