'Dare mo shiranai' (NOBODY KNOWS) is a gleaming little film by writer/director Hirokazu Koreeda that offers a version of a true story so simply and eloquently that by the end of the film the audience is powerfully moved - without gimmicks, without imitation emotional devices, without major stars. It just simply works. Though the film is long at 2 1/2 hours the journey is well worth it and indeed the prolonged length seems necessary to convey the plight of these touching children's plight.
The film opens (during the titles) on public transportation where a youthful mother Keiko (the pop star You) and her young son Akira (Yûya Yagira) sit guarding an ugly pink suitcase and other bags. Keira and Keiko have rented a poor little apartment promising the landlord that Keiko will make no noise. Once inside their new home the ugly bags are open and two additional children emerge and a trip to the bus station adds yet a third child! Thus, 'unknown' to the landlord, the apartment contains a family of five! Soon Keiko leaves on a trip to 'make money', leaving some cash with Akira who is placed in charge of his brother and sisters. Of course, Keiko doesn't return except for one brief visit months later, and leaving the children to fend for themselves.
Akira manages to make friends outside, gaining food and money for good deeds and good will, keeping his little 'family' afloat. Gradually Akira realizes that Keiko will never return and through his friendship with a young girl still manages to eek out an existence: the manner in which he keeps his family happy is food for the soul! But despite his constant good intentions to maintain a life for his family, one of his sisters dies and he and his girl friend bury her where she can 'watch the airplanes'. And life goes on. There is no ending depicted, just continuum.
With the subtlest technique Koreeda creates a story so real that it pulsates. The child actors (especially Yûya Yagira) are so natural and fine that they grab our hearts tenaciously. The only music in this film is a few notes form a toy piano and quiet harp music that enhances the feeling of isolation of the children. This is a film of rare beauty, one that could have been edited a bit, but even that criticism is overshadowed by the impact of Hirokazu Koreeda's overall achievement. Very Highly Recommended. Grady Harp
The film opens (during the titles) on public transportation where a youthful mother Keiko (the pop star You) and her young son Akira (Yûya Yagira) sit guarding an ugly pink suitcase and other bags. Keira and Keiko have rented a poor little apartment promising the landlord that Keiko will make no noise. Once inside their new home the ugly bags are open and two additional children emerge and a trip to the bus station adds yet a third child! Thus, 'unknown' to the landlord, the apartment contains a family of five! Soon Keiko leaves on a trip to 'make money', leaving some cash with Akira who is placed in charge of his brother and sisters. Of course, Keiko doesn't return except for one brief visit months later, and leaving the children to fend for themselves.
Akira manages to make friends outside, gaining food and money for good deeds and good will, keeping his little 'family' afloat. Gradually Akira realizes that Keiko will never return and through his friendship with a young girl still manages to eek out an existence: the manner in which he keeps his family happy is food for the soul! But despite his constant good intentions to maintain a life for his family, one of his sisters dies and he and his girl friend bury her where she can 'watch the airplanes'. And life goes on. There is no ending depicted, just continuum.
With the subtlest technique Koreeda creates a story so real that it pulsates. The child actors (especially Yûya Yagira) are so natural and fine that they grab our hearts tenaciously. The only music in this film is a few notes form a toy piano and quiet harp music that enhances the feeling of isolation of the children. This is a film of rare beauty, one that could have been edited a bit, but even that criticism is overshadowed by the impact of Hirokazu Koreeda's overall achievement. Very Highly Recommended. Grady Harp