MovieChat Forums > Manbiki kazoku (2018) Discussion > His Best Yet

His Best Yet

posted 5 years ago by Magic Slim (66)
6 replies | jump to latest

Wonderful depiction of a group of ragtag folks perfectly content with the freeloading (minimalist) life taking pleasure from incredibly simplistic things with a crude social justice credo. Granny was being taken advantage of, knew it but seemed very much at ease with the benefits. Child abduction was the dark theme but justified (we are led to believe) by saving the kids from a worse fate and providing them with a loving (in their own way) family environment. The message being the state isn't probabaly going to do it any better. Serious themes explored in a light hearted way.

[–] Wispuss (6) 5 years ago

Or just Palme d'or-bait, with the crude nudity that made post-B&W Asian cinema semi-famous in the East, a frustrating, left untied plot (so the show-girl was the daughter that was supposed to be in Australia? how ? why? ), a half-assed depiction of a serious & under-the-rug issue that is extreme poverty in Japan, where some people get themselves locked up to get a roof & free meals (& other developed regions, i.e H-K, where disenfranchised sleep in 24/24 McDonalds rather than their closet-size apartments)...
Still it has its charm & the cinematography ain't half bad, but like a good meal shared by too many, it left a disturbing gargling noise in my metaphorical stomach, as loud as how they slurp their noodles all the movie long (reminded me of Midnight Diner, which, in the same vein, i found better despite the even slower pace). 7/10.

[–] Nostromo (212) 5 years ago

She knew her parents were awful parents that's why. She was far happier living with the ragtags because they had shown her far more love than her parents had throughout her life. It's a wonderful movie which I won't stop thinking about for weeks. 9/10 possible 10 out of 10.

[–] j (26) 4 years ago

It's not directly stated but you can piece together the general story of Aki.

Hatsue's ex husband left her and got together with his mistress, and they had a son together (Aki's father). Aki is the son of her father and her father's original mother. Aki's father also left his wife and got together with his mistress. That's why when Hatsue said you both really look alike, she's actually making fun of him for doing the exact same thing his father did.

Aki's father's had another daughter with his new wife. Aki's step mother doesn't really care for her and therefore the parents pay all of their attention to this new daughter. This is why Aki uses her sister's name as her pseudonym in the hostess club, as she wish she was her younger sister, who grew up with the full love of her parents. You can tell this because she's perky and friendly, unlike Aki.

Likely Aki ran away from her home and decided to stay with Hatsue, telling them that she's in Australia, because despite not being of blood relations, she actually gets more love with this old woman than with her actual family.

[–] rudeboymurray (3241) 5 years ago

It's a wonderful film and still my favourite I have seen from 2018 but I think I like Nobody Knows and Like Father, Like Son just a little more. Koreeda is a master.

[–] cristalle1 (13) 4 years ago

Yes this movie was masterful and the twists and turns were unexpected and revealing. Highly recommended.

[–] ducksoup (3933) 4 years ago

I'll have to check this director's other films to see if I agree with the title, but I know already that this was an excellent film. There was an interesting contrast between the big picture and the little picture, the day-to-day life contrasted with the reality of the situation. There were no easy moral answers here. Best film I've seen in years.