Our Little Sister by Hirokazu Kore-Eda
Ivan Magrin-Chagnolleau
The Filmmaker Who Weaves Connections
Hirokazu Kore-eda continues his exploration of the bonds between people. Our Little Sister is a magnificent film that tells the story of three adult sisters living together, who welcome their youngest sister—whom they’ve barely known—into their large home.
The actresses are wonderful, superbly directed, and beautifully captured on film. It is a very sensitive, deeply moving film, with a striking apparent simplicity. But this apparent simplicity is rooted in conscious and thoughtful cinematic choices. Notably, there is a beautiful use of music, a very refined and effective cinematography, and a brilliant staging of both interior and exterior spaces.
This film deals extensively with memory and remembrance. These themes are explored through a beautiful philosophical and spiritual reflection. Food also plays a significant role, and sharing meals allows the characters to forge bonds of camaraderie, which later develop into emotional connections.
This is truly cinema that explores the bonds of the heart, which, in my opinion, are the most important—and all too rarely explored in film, except perhaps in the romantic comedy genre. Fortunately, there are filmmakers like Kore-Eda Hirokazu, who aren’t afraid to tackle such a subject, and who do so brilliantly without falling into sentimentality or maudlin sentiment.
Director: Kore-Eda Hirokazu
Screenplay and Dialogue: Kore-Eda Hirokazu
Cinematography: Takimoto Mikiya
Production Design: Mitsumatsu Keiko
Music: Kanno Yoko
Editing: Kore-Eda Hirokazu
Sound: Tsurumaki Yutaka
Cast:
Ayase Haruka (Sachi)
Nagasawa Masami (Yoshino)
Kaho (Chika)
Hirose Suzu (Suzu)