tobskiv's Review: Shoplifters (2018), Japanese Movie Focusing on Poverty Problem in Japan Society

in #aaa5 years ago

For the director Hirokazu Kore-eda, "Shoplifters" is undoubtedly another film under his lens to show and explore the complex relationship and social problems of the family. From the perspective of the subject matter, it is the family that plays the family movie. This movie re-touched the souls of the bottom of the society with delicate touches, which made people moved. In "Shoplifters", it is difficult to see that it is a very clear director's intention. The contradiction and development of the whole story seem to be a calm narrative of the social problems of the poor living conditions of the bottom non-blood family in Japan, but the inside is implied. The director’s second analysis of the human nature of this group of temporary families is that the director does not have too much tendency and interpretation. Between cruelty and warmth, feelings are completely left to the audience to experience.

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Such a narrative approach close to the master level makes every character in the film bring the complexity of human nature. Grandma's inner need for companionship and hatred of her ex-husband constitute the inner side of her heart. Although she knows that this family of non-blood relationships has a selfish heart, the helplessness and pain of life have taught her to tolerate the selfishness of this kind of relationship. Osamu Shibata and Nobuyo Shibata’s hearts and minds are always remembering the pensions of their grandmother’s companions, but they feel hurt when they bury their grandmothers. It is the director that allows us to see the Japanese social system's disappointment to the bottom poor, and at the same time demonstrate the complex humanity of this temporary family.

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Compared with the warmth, the film shows more realistic cruelty. It is the beginning of the soft color. It makes people feel the repression and boring of the thief family. The tension of the film is sharply magnified, making the sadness at the end more sad. It can be said that the director and his ability to control the language of the lens make it easy to be in the stage of the story. And this comprehensive use of color and light will make everyone in the thief family kind and lovely. One side of the show is full of enthusiasm, and let each other's inner selfishness and helplessness seem heartbreaking.

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Every character in this movie is full and vital, and because of this, the slow and delicate narrative shows its powerful meaning. The warmer the laughter, the more difficult it is to suppress it . In the film, the depiction of family affair, the display of indifference, and the contrast between the bottom of society and the official attitude, strive to be objective and calm. He uses his restraint to bring the answer you want, and everyone's understanding of love, life and hardship. It is the interpretation of the film by his own experience.

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Through the director, some people see the warmth, and some people see the cruelty. The complexity of this multifaceted interpretation is the real place of the "Shoplifters". After all, the world is like this. The secular will not answer your confusion. It’s the director that just put these people in front of you. This unremarkable film expression makes the feelings in your heart. If it is said that the story of the sadness in this background buried some director's initial heart, then perhaps you hope that everyone who has seen the film can learn to be gentle. Being gentle to people, and more gentle to the world.

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My Score is 8.9/10


Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/505192?language=en-US
Critic: AAA