Shoplifters (2018; Manbiki Kazoku) is the first that I’ve seen of writer-director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s many critically-acclaimed films. It’s about a struggling family that make ends meet by shoplifting and who take in a young girl from an abusive home. Observational, funny and warm, there were moments that just had me tearing up instantly. At first, I thought it was comparable to Lukas Moodysson’s Together in the essential goodness it portrayed. But rather than the euphoric ending of that film, the ending’s revelations complicated all that went before and was more down to earth and realistic, while not dispelling the compassion and empathy that came before. The performances were excellent. Recommended.
VHS Tracking 