OUR LITTLE SISTER (Japan 2015) ***
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-da

Review by Gilbert Seah

Though not his best, the latest from Kore-da (AFTER LIFE, LIKE FATHER LIKE SON) contains all the charm and some traits from his best films. In OUR LITTLE SISTER, a character remarks that God has not created perfectly and it is up to man to make the best of it. Like his masterpiece AFTER LIFE, in which human beings after death have to film their best memories to take to heaven to remember forever, humans make a big difference in the lives of Kore-da’s characters.

Three grown sisters (Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa and Kaho) who live in their late grandmother’s sprawling home in Kamakura, a genteel city south of Tokyo take their teenage half sister, Suzu (Suzu Hirose) to live with them after their father’s death. The seasons drift by, marked by the arrival of cherry blossoms (beautifully shot), the making of plum wine, or a showering of fireworks.

The sister learn to deal better with their problems. The neat thing about this film is the observation of the behaviour of Japanese sisters. The film would turn out a whole lot differently if it were set in America with a dysfunctional family of sisters. The film is based on the graphic novel by Akimi Yoshida. A pleasant and occasional charming drama about life.

The film played In Competition at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. The film has since won 10 awards, including Best Film and Best Director at the 2016 Japanese Academy Awards.