Nobody Knows

At first I have to mention that Nobody Knows (2004) is the first film I've seen from the Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda. The film's screenplay was written during a period of 15 years and it was inspired by a real life story. The film tells the story of 4 children who are left alone by their single mom who runs away with a new boyfriend.

Essentially the film is about lost childhood and the importance of family. It is tragic to see the family fall apart although the end is not completely somber. The children try hard to escape their anxieties - they don't even realise their horrible situation at first. What Koreeda has to say is somewhat relevant, it never feels like he has a precise idea on what he wants to say - or his ideas are a little too narrow for the film to become "perfect". Luckily, its complex narrative is rewarding (and involving) even though it is challenging as well.

Koreeda handles the subject with strict minimalism: a lot of plot development happens offscreen, the performances are very naturalistic (the film has one of the greatest casts that consist of only children) and the camerawork isn't elaborate. The slow pace of the film might not be easy for everyone, but it fits the film's content perfectly. It allows us to see the development in more detail so that the impact is bigger while still retaining its subtlety. And even with this calm pace, the film is incredibly dense in its storytelling. If you are going to watch this film, pay attention to the last hour - it's even more amazing when you take this into consideration. Even the use of music (and the music itself) is very subtle - with the exception of an awesome song sequence near the end of the film.

Koreeda's cinematography is rich: the compositions are not only beautiful but also meaningful. There are lots of subtle ways through which Koreeda sets the mood for each scene. For example, there is a scene in which the oldest boy of the family, Akira, meets a schoolgirl for the umpteenth time. Koreeda opens the scene with a shot of their legs: while the schoolgirl has proper shoes for the school outfit, Akira only wears terrible slippers. Even though the scene itself is sweeter, Koreeda tries to emphasize the difference between the two characters.

Ultimately, Hirokazu Koreeda's Nobody Knows is a film presented in the best possible way even though its content is a bit disappointing in the end: the ambition which is visible in other aspects made me think the film would go even further. But don't get me wrong: I nearly loved the film because it did affect me although its impact was hardly on the level of City of Sadness or Love Exposure.

Score: 9 out of 10