Movie: After the Storm

After the Storm:  a family drama.  This Japanese film was written and directed by Hirokazu Koreeda.  We are introduced to Ryota (Hiroshi Abe) shortly after his father’s death and several years after the publication of his award winning novel.  The film is contemporary but its exact time frame is not specified.  Ryota is divorced and delinquent on his child support payments.  Despite his talent as a writer, Ryota works as a private detective.  Like his father, Ryota has a gambling addiction.  He is also still in love with his ex-wife, Kyoko (Yoko Maki), who has a boyfriend.  Ryota’s visitation rights with his son, Shingo (Taiyo Yoshizawa), are limited to once a month.   A significant portion of the film takes place over one long weekend, which includes Shingo’s visit with Ryota.  The other principal characters are Ryota’s mother, Yoshiko (Kirin Kiki), and his sister, Chinatsu (Satomi Kobayashi).  When the mother is on screen, she frequently dominates the screen and provides the only comic lines.   Chinatsu is employed and has a daughter.  She is protective of the mother and her actions frustrate Ryota.  He interprets Chinatsu’s action as taking advantage of their mother but, in reality, it is Ryota who’s the sponge.   As the story unfolds, we hear radio reports about the imminent arrival of a typhoon.  By the time the typhoon hits, most of this 117-minute movie has played out.  A less philosophical writer might have dubbed the film “Before the Storm”.   Hiroshi Abe’s excellent acting carries parts of the film.  This film does not offer any major dramatic scenes; it simply focuses on the reality of human dynamics within a family structure and how some people cope with life.  There are no special effects.   Instead, the drama and action are subtle, but for days afterwards, individual scenes will emerge and linger among your thoughts.  Superb acting by all the characters.  Subtitled