After the Storm

117 minutes

Japanese

Japan

Award-winning and critically acclaimed director Kore-eda Hirokazu returns with a powerful story of family ties remade, drawing more deeply than ever on his personal memories and experiences. Dwelling on his past glory as a prize-winning author, Ryota (Hiroshi Abe) wastes the money he makes as a private detective on gambling and can barely pay his child support. After the death of his father, his aging mother Yoshiko (Kirin Kiki) and his beautiful ex-wife Kyoko (Yoko Maki) seem to be moving on with their lives. Renewing contact with his initially distrusting family, Ryota struggles to take back control of his existence and to find a place in the life of his young son Shingo (Taiyo Yoshizawa) – until a stormy summer night offers them a chance to truly bond again.

starring...

Hiroshi Abe

Shinoda Ryôta

Yôko Maki

Shiraishi Kyôko

Kiki Kilin

Shinoda Yoshiko

Yoshizawa Taiyo

Shiraishi Shingo

Writer/Director/Editor

Hirokazu Kore-eda

Cinematography

Yutaka Yamazaki

Music

Hanaregumi

Art Direction

Keiko Mitsumatsu

Set Decoration

Akiko Matsuba

Costume Design

Kazuko Kurosawa

Casting

Toshie Tabata

69% on the CINEMETER

STL

84% - Apr 2, 2017

Nostalgia, hopeful, promise for the future—all after the storm. The saved shirt and the erect stance at the end support an optimistic perspective.
St. Louis Member

Grandma's wisdom is to live life in the present. A simple message to the son to be responsible, to love another deeply.
St. Louis Member

Wonderful story! Best scene for me was the one between mother & son late in the film. She seems to pinpoint the struggle of her son in finding himself. She says to him (paraphrasing), "Find the joy in the reality of the day, not in the dreams of the future." The film's ending feels realistic, hopeful.
St. Louis Member

"We are who we are!" Film so eloquently portrayed the story of family life—literally its ups and down, people coming together, moving apart, pain of dissolution of a relationship, solidifying of family, caring. Acting of all participants—superb! Ryota, terrific. Kiki Kilin as Yoshiko was most expressive and with great humor. Hirokazu did a great job conveying family bonding to the filmgoers. Music—excellent!
St. Louis Member

What a wonderful, contemporary human movie! Interesting to see that beneath all of the Japanese bowing and courtesy, they have all of the same relationship problems at home and at work as the rest of us. It was an eloquent testament to HOPE! The size and demeanor of the main character, Ryota Shinoda, reminded me of a "bull in a China shop" until the end.
St. Louis Member

ATL

58% - Mar 26, 2017

Overwhelmed by the beauty of this and how genuine it felt. Deliberate and honest and just performed with such truth.
Atlanta Member

I appreciated the stark honesty of the theme of most lives not being the realization of ones dreams but rather life being how we deal with the disappointment of that reality.
Atlanta Member

Very interesting take on aging and memory of those loved and lost (both in life and death) great realistic version of some complex family generational issues
Atlanta Member

I enjoyed the message of live in the present – not always worry about the past or the future
Atlanta Member

While I enjoyed the “real life” quality of the film, I wish it hadn’t been filmed at the pace of real life. That said, I enjoyed the endless array of snack foods and the wisdom of grandma
Atlanta Member

MIL

81% - Apr 2, 2017

Extremely well done portrayal. Characters, story and acting made me feel I was watching real life--not a movie.
Milwaukee Member

Nice family story. It shows how every family has conflicts of personalities and desires.
Milwaukee Member

Milwaukee Member

BOS

72% - Mar 26, 2017

Loved this film. True snippet of life.
Boston Member

Lovely movie with a good showing of family, people… very poignant.
Boston Member

Charming and humorous at times.
Boston Member

A small gem—deep exploration of familial relationships and possibilities which may or may not work out.
Boston Member

Zen poem masterpiece.
Boston Member

74% - Mar 19, 2017

What struck me was that no matter what external trials transpired all the characters "nourished" each other in some manner as represented by the food consumed in almost every scene.
San Francisco Member

Prophetic, sweet - filled with visuals that were metaphoric. Kiki Kilin kills it again!
San Francisco Member

Great study of a section of Japanese culture. Loved the claustrophobic aspect of space & human connection.
San Francisco Member

Warm & wise, full of subtle humor...and sadness. "We cannot find happiness in the past or in the future, only in the present."
San Francisco Member

Such a thoughtful quiet film, showed a different side of Japanese family life that we never see in films.
San Francisco Member

Loved the mix of cultural norms with realities of the world of these poor folk. Post-film presentation excellent.
San Francisco Member

No matter the lack of space and money, grandmas always come through.
San Francisco Member

67% - Mar 26, 2017

Excellent acting, subtle honest portrayals. Interesting symbolism: butterflies, broken umbrellas, storms, food and cooking, holding on to things (the clutter in the mother/grandmother’s home), the tangerine tree, the lottery. The idea of the novelist as detective, as voyeur, as con artist, as gambler. The commonality of siblings, mother-child, father-child, grandmother-grandchild, ex husband-ex wife.
Greater New Haven Member

Universal theme but with cultural focus. Life, death, relationships and disappointment are portrayed, yet memories co-exist and bring emotions to the fore.
Greater New Haven Member

I loved being a guest in this charming family’s life.
Greater New Haven Member

A very tender story, easy to connect to. Loved the symbolism of the typhoon and the butterfly.
Greater New Haven Member

Loved the grandmother. Realistic ending. Bittersweet. You can love someone and not be able to ‘change’ them. A little sad to think that love, even reciprocal, can’t make a person want to try to be better. [Note: many club members appreciated the character of the grandmother.]
Greater New Haven Member

A sweet, sad, and honest story of a family. It felt like we were snooping on these people amid their struggles and loss. It felt very real. I enjoyed the guest speaker! [Note: a number of club members praised Godfrey Cheshire.]
Greater New Haven Member

The dialogue often was very much like Haiku. Terse! Poignant!
Greater New Haven Member

The more I thought about the movie, the more I appreciated it. I liked the ambiguity of the ending: there was a possibility of change, but not a promise. I loved the story of the grandmother. This was one of the few times that I have seen a story about an older woman told with such depth and nuance. The actress in this role was superb.
Greater New Haven Member

The grandmother is the keeper of the flame. She demonstrates that even with all our modern day distractions, we are still being visited by ghosts in our dreams. I loved the scene of chasing lottery tickets (dreams) in a typhoon!
Greater New Haven Member

A gem. Made me think of TOKYO STORY. It does exactly what it sets out to do: tell a complex and subtle story about a family, generations, and the secrets and losses inherent in growing up. The acting was superb, the wisdom was there for the taking, but so quiet and open. Just a beauty.
Greater New Haven Member

72% - Mar 26, 2017

Interesting look at dreams, hopes and reality of where to find joy in life.
Washington, DC Member

Rare to see a commercial movie with this deliberate, observant pace, and that tells such complicated emotions in such a basic, universal manner.
Washington, DC Member

I have rarely seen a movie that has so many unfulfilling moments that was so fulfilling.
Washington, DC Member

The grandmother stole the show. The family survived the storm. The ending was perfect for this wise story so gently told.
Washington, DC Member

I found everything about this film appealing, interesting, thoughtful and believable. Well crafted and a smart look into the current Japanese culture, yet having international resonance.
Washington, DC Member

BOCA

47% - Mar 26, 2017

Moving insights into human relationships.
Boca Raton Member

Acting was terrific, especially Kiki Kilin the grandmother
Boca Raton Member

Bittersweet, universal themes. Story could have been anywhere--in Brooklyn with a Jewish grandmother and disappointing son.
Boca Raton Member

A very good, seldom told story.
Boca Raton Member

Film Movement