Our Little Sister - my favorite hirokazu koreeda movie

A spoiler-free video essay I wrote about one of my favorite movies: "Our Little Sister" (Umimachi Diary), directed by Hirokazu Koreeda.

I have to go on a small trip this weekend, so I won't be able to film this weekend, even though the weekend is the one time I'm completely free to film whatever I want. I do wanna try and get one more video done before the end of the week, and hopefully a video that is more CoMeDiC in nature, cuz I haven't done a funny video in a while. No promises though, cuz it all depends on how busy I am with work.

But yeah, I like making videos about stuff I like, and I really liked this movie! If you've seen this movie already, hopefully you get to relate to some thoughts on a more niche movie that doesn't have lots of other video essays written on it. But if you haven't seen it yet, maybe this'll introduce you to some new really cool movies to watch!

But yeah, as always, thanks for watching!! If you haven't already, please like, comment, and subscribe!

Okay, see y'all next video.

#japan #movies #moviereviews

[TheLocalMangaka]

Hi! Today I want to talk about one of my favorite film directors, Hirokazu Koreeda

Hirokazu Koreeda’s films to me are like, the closest thing I’ve seen to a live-action Studio Ghibli.

And I’m not talking about the supernatural elements of Studio Ghibli like Spirited Away or magic rabbits.

I’m talking about the more realistic, observational films of Studio Ghibli like Isao Takahata’s “Only Yesterday” or Yoshifumi Kondo’s “Whisper of the Heart”, where sidenote, Whisper of the Heart is my favorite Ghibli movie tied with Princess Mononoke--but those are video essays for me to write another day.

Because Hirokazu Koreeda is a virtuoso of the mundane, an expert at capturing the quiet minutiae of everyday Japanese lifestyle. His films often rely on unspoken pauses, or setting a camera at a removed distance, and letting a scene unfold naturally by itself.

Hirokazu Koreeda is probably currently most famous for Shoplifters, where he won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, much like how Parasite did in 2019.

But today I want to talk about my favorite Koreeda movie: Our Little Sister, also known in Japan as Umimachi Diary.

Our Little Sister is the story of four sisters. Three of the sisters grew up together, but at a young age, their father abandoned them and ran off with a mistress, with whom he eventually had a fourth daughter. And this movie begins with the funeral of the said father, and the three sisters meeting this fourth sister for the first time.

And this entire movie is basically just...two hours of watching these four sisters live together and go about their everyday lives.

There’s a genre of anime called CGDCT
It stands for “Cute girls doing cute things”

And this movie is kinda like a live-action adaptation of that, except these aren’t girls.
These are WOMEN.
And so for an “adult” like me, that makes it...so MUCH HOTTER.
Like these women have jobs and shit. And I have a job!
And okay, Im gonna stop.

But yeah, this movie is more than just watching pretty people do their laundry.

This is a movie about life.

It’s a movie about grief. About quietly handling past trauma. It is a movie that celebrates the small wonders of life--there are so many subtle yet joyful tidbits in this movie that make you nostalgic. These include playing in a soccer match, eating freshly caught whitebait fish on toast, making plum wine, or bicycling with your crush through a tunnel-like grove of cherry blossom trees.

This movie, like many of Koreeda’s movies...makes you yearn. It makes you yearn for...the act of living. And also for Japan. I don’t think any movie has made me long for the Japanese countryside more than this one.

But something to note of Koreeda’s filmmaking style is that, while his movies are incredibly observant of human behavior...they are almost never particularly emotive. They’re usually careful and reserved in how they express themselves, choosing to express feeling not through screams or bursts of emotion...but rather through quiet glances, through small gestures. Because its only when you huddle your ears close, that you can hear the smallest of details.

Although, when it comes to having a lack of bouts of emotion, I think Our Little Sister is the one Koreeda movie that has some leeway in this regard. And the difference isn’t because of the characters or the plot… It’s because of the soundtrack. The soundtrack was composed by Yoko Kanno, and yes I’m talking about THE Yoko Kanno. For those who don’t know Yoko Kanno is the composer of Cowboy Bebop, and if that alone doesn’t convince you of her musical brilliance, then…I don’t know what will.

But yeah, because of the soundtrack, while the characters are still reserved in typical Koreeda style, there is such a strong emotional undercurrent because of the score. There are so many swoons, and swells, and sweeps, and….swiffers.

But yeah, here is a movie where the violins, the strings, the notes...they carry out and ooze the feelings that can’t be said.

Now for those of you who’ve seen a few of my videos by now, you can probably tell that I am a...very expressive person. I’m very effusive and…I am a huge proponent of being able to express my emotions. And I think that’s why the soundtrack alone is why this is my favorite Koreeda movie, because the soundtrack is hugely responsible for much of the emotion in this film.

And the other reason I like this movie is because ITS SO PRETTY. Like...ITS SO PRETTY.. AAHH.

So yeah. Our Little Sister is a movie about life, about pretty people living their lives. But it’s also a movie that is primarily about...forgiveness. I don’t want to spoil this movie, but a central theme of the plot is learning how to process pain. Pain that is not, immediately apparent, but sits in our minds like a faint cloud as we go about our daily activities. And it’s about...taking the step forward to confront this pain. To me, this whole movie is a chronicle of the healing that comes about with absolution we receive after confronting our pains, absolution of the feelings lingering from the hurt we receive from others, and the hurt we sometimes give ourselves.


And so yeah, all in all, Our Little Sister by Hirokazu Koreeda is one of my favorite movies ever. It’s a movie that I wished could’ve gone on forever. I was so engrossed in watching these sisters sit around living their lives, and like....I wish I was there!! Why couldn’t I be there?? Why couldn’t this movie be “Our Little Sister and...adopted Vietnamese Brother”? That would’ve been an excellent movie! The most perfect movie to ever exist, in my opinion.

I have to give major props to Haruka Ayase, who plays the eldest sister Sachi. She conveys a delicate balance of poise and anguish so well, without seeming overly melancholy. All the sisters in this movie act incredibly well, but Sachi’s performance was the most moving for me.

But yeah I love this movie. I’ve watched it multiple times and if I had to give it a rating, I’d give it an A+. 10/10. Perfect movie. I will warn though, that this is one of Hirokazu Koreeda’s more optimistic movies, and so if you watch this and think “oh this was so heartwarming” most of Koreeda’s other movies are a lot more...SAD.

But, if you are in a sad mood right now, I can guarantee that this is a movie that will lift your spirits. And not in an overly energizing or emotionally exhausting way. It’s a movie that can comfort you like a warm cup of tea, or reliving some fond childhood memories, or it’s like, for a few hours, having a sister.

[riffgroove]

I never would have previously thought that a film like this was possible.
There is no antagonist, and nothing bad happens throughout the film.
2 hours of people being nice to each other, and it never gets boring.
I watch this film on a regular basis. One of my all time favorites.

[cecildemille]

Just saw this gem yesterday evening on French TV. It's a 2 hours movie. I would have wished 4, 5 or more...

[rossoporco]

This is one my favorite movies, too. The reason is that throughout the movie, it expresses the ordinary events of our daily life, nothing is too emotional but full of kindness, sympathy, compassion and so on.

As you might know, this movie was originated from the comic titled “Umimachi Dairy” written by Akimi Yoshida.

[LorenzoNW]

For such an understated "slice of life" film, Our Little Sister is so rich in humanity. So satisfying to look back on, even years later. This is real cinema.

[bananatiergod]

Discovered Kore-eda's films this year and at this point he became one of my favorites. My personal favorites of his are Our Little Sister, Shoplifters and the very underrated After the Storm. I got super excited to find out he works on a new movie and series with Netflix and can't wait to see what he'll have in store this time.

[fengmibao]

Our Little Sister / 海街 diary is my most favorite Koreeda film too. It's subtle and simple like a Studio Ghibli live action that gives warmth to the audience. This is a remarkable slice of life film with pretty casts and pretty sceneries.

[michaelrmurphy]

A few years ago, I got the catalog for the local film festival and I was leafing through it. A stunning photo with
four beautiful young Japanese women caught my eye. Our Little Sister. Wow! Interesting. I LOVE Japan
and four pretty Japanese girls? How could I go wrong? So I went to see it. MY It made me cry!!!!
SO moving and heartfelt! In the wonderful countryside of Japan with four sisters trying to come to terms with
their shared legacy.

[ಅನಿರುಧ್]

Koreeda is a master filmmaker. If you do love his movies I’d recommend watching Ozu’s movies. They are of a similar vein. Hirokazu is his successor in style and form. I love Koreeda’s Still Walking ! Thank you for sharing about Our Little Sister. I will watch it because you shared.

[HershLundy]

Saw your review. Saw the movie. You're right. I was dumbstruck by how emotionally affected I was. Such a precious gem of a movie. And I thought your synchronization of clips with your commentary was well done. Thank you.

[madhursawant]

This was my first Koreeda movie and have been hooked on to this genre ever since. The fireworks, the girls in yukatas and yes Haruka and Suzu, one may wish to have sisters like that. Great video summary 😊

[LXKeemProductions]

This movie is so beautiful. It's also beautiful in a very Japanese way.

[josevenhundret]

I love how enthusiastic you are a bout the movie. Thank you. I often picture a world where people where not ashamed about what means al lot to them or don't try to hold their emotions when it comes to sharing what kind of stories really touched their hearts.

[vin-metal]

Your review is spot on - I couldn't agree more even down to wishing I could watch the rest of their lives together or be related to them so they were part of my family! It is my favorie Kore-eda film as well with Shoplifters as probably my #2.

[lululemonade_]

This movie is like a warm soup in the gloomy weather and make you wanna have a sister at the end of the film.

[davidsheriff]

I've just discovered koreeda, I have been watching his films. He makes one masterpiece after the other, he's like the Beatles. I just watched Maborosi, it's a very beautiful profound film. I'm looking forward to seeing Broker.

[lightawake]

I love that you compared Koreeda to Miyazaki - I agree. I love both directors' works and felt the similarities of why - I think they are both masters at thinking deeply and fearlessly about society without pandering to convention, expressing their observations through empathy, humanity and heart, and giving hope in the goodness of people.

[martynsui]

I know i'm 2 years late to the party, but great review!

[Sittingull]

It might just be my favorite movie all around.

[diogoalmeida]

You should watch "A Gentle Breeze in the Village" another beautiful countryside japanese film, Chika is the protagonist tho. Would love to hear your thought. Keep up the good work!