I am giving this movie a five out of 10 because of the settings and the photography. Also the originality of the script. I do realize that others have said this is a remake of a Japanese film but since I am not familiar with that this is new to me.
Many on the message boards have commented on the coldness of the grown children to the parents. But they must not have listened to the children's side of the story. How the mother had been consumed with deferring to the father who did think the small world of his family should revolve around him. I found the father/husband the least sympathetic character. Maybe I do not like the actor but he did not seem visibly distressed by the unexpected death of his wife.
The films most likable characters were the lesbian partner of the daughter and the street performer who befriends the father. The partner observes that she sees someone inside the mother that her family can not see. This is a rare gift and probably this woman sees the "inside" person in many people. The Japanese girl also had a rare gentility and generosity that could not have been better expressed, even if in my opinion, to a somewhat undeserving person. The film never says (and no one on the message board asked) if she was allowed to keep the money Rudi gave her. But I wished that was so. My absolute favorite scenes were those in the vacation place near Mt. Fuji. I loved everything about them, makes me almost wish I could visit Japan to see them. However living in Tokyo would certainly not appeal.
The most inexplicable character was that of the mother. She had the heart and soul of an artist and she completely subjugated it to serving a not very interesting husband. I am roughly her age (if not older) and her subservience to him was unpleasant. Actually also to her children. She seemed to have no ego in relationship to the nearest people to her but the film never presents a reason that should be so.
Many on the message boards have commented on the coldness of the grown children to the parents. But they must not have listened to the children's side of the story. How the mother had been consumed with deferring to the father who did think the small world of his family should revolve around him. I found the father/husband the least sympathetic character. Maybe I do not like the actor but he did not seem visibly distressed by the unexpected death of his wife.
The films most likable characters were the lesbian partner of the daughter and the street performer who befriends the father. The partner observes that she sees someone inside the mother that her family can not see. This is a rare gift and probably this woman sees the "inside" person in many people. The Japanese girl also had a rare gentility and generosity that could not have been better expressed, even if in my opinion, to a somewhat undeserving person. The film never says (and no one on the message board asked) if she was allowed to keep the money Rudi gave her. But I wished that was so. My absolute favorite scenes were those in the vacation place near Mt. Fuji. I loved everything about them, makes me almost wish I could visit Japan to see them. However living in Tokyo would certainly not appeal.
The most inexplicable character was that of the mother. She had the heart and soul of an artist and she completely subjugated it to serving a not very interesting husband. I am roughly her age (if not older) and her subservience to him was unpleasant. Actually also to her children. She seemed to have no ego in relationship to the nearest people to her but the film never presents a reason that should be so.