031_One_Movie_Punch_After_The_Storm_2017

Today’s movie is “After the Storm” (2016), an independent Japanese family drama centered around Ryota (Hiroshi Abe), a former novelist and current private detective struggling with a gambling addiction, paying child support to his ex-wife, Kyôko (Yôko Maki), dealing with the death of his estranged father, worrying about his mother (Kilin Kiki), and working at being a father to his son, Shingo (Taiyô Yoshizawa). The film debuted in 2016 and had a limited release last year in the United States.

Hirokazu Kore-eda wrote the film, crafting a script that genuinely unfolds and unpacks the characters and their relationships in the days before a typhoon is set to reach the mainland. Kore-eda does a great job giving you enough background to give you a sense of each character, but with each new conflict and struggle, particularly with Ryota, you begin to see subtle details that make you re-evaluate everyone and every situation. Hiroshi Abe turns Ryota into a lovable, well-meaning person, if hopelessly flawed.

I was particularly struck by the relationship between Ryota and his mother. Kilin Kiki gives a truly remarkable performance, a perfect foil for Ryota, someone who knows him intimately as his mother, but still struggling to understand herself after losing her husband. Even when she is in the background, she makes her presence known and affects the characters.

In addition to the quality performances and script, however, are excellent locations, not only giving a wide swath of Japanese urban life, but also keeping a pedestrian feel to the story. I also very much enjoyed the music selections, which always augment the scene and particularly the emotion within that scene. Even the filters help define the tone.

“After The Storm” (2016) is exquisite and deserved an Oscar nomination, whether in 2016 or for this year given the limited release. It has a solid script and great performances, and wastes very little. It is rare to watch a film this subtle, playful and genuine that puts emotion over resolution, realism over desire. If you are looking to escape for a couple hours into a family drama that will warm your heart and challenge your perspective, this is the film for you.

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% (CERTIFIED)

Metacritic: 84

One Movie Punch: 9.2/10

Podcast: onemoviepunch.libsyn.com/episode-031-after-the-storm-2016

“After The Storm” (2016) is not rated and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Episode 031 - After the Storm (2016)

Episode 231 - Borg vs. McEnroe (2017)

Episode 230 - To All The Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

Episode 229 - Touch of Evil (1958)

Episode 228 - Leaning Into The Wind: Andy Goldsworthy (2018)

Episode 227 - Perdida (2018)

Episode 226 - The Package (2018)

Episode 225 - BlacKkKlansman (2018)

Episode 224 - Flavours of Youth (2018)

Episode 223 - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

Episode 222 - Surf Nazis Must Die (1987)

Episode 221 - 44 Pages (2017)

Episode 220 - Brij Mohan Amar Rahe (2018)

Episode 219 - Oh, Lucy! (2018)

Episode 218 - Eighth Grade (2018)

Episode 217 - Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018)

Episode 216 - Like Father (2018)

Episode 215 - The Stranger (1946)

Episode 214 - The Bleeding Edge (2018)

Episode 213 - The Warning (2018)

Episode 212 - Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017)

Joseph Dobzynski, Jr.

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