Still Walking

Hirokazu Kore-eda's Still Walking (2008) is his most Ozu-esque film. It is a family drama that takes place over the course of two days when the family gather s to mark the death of the oldest son of the family. The dead son was the golden boy of the family and cast a shadow over the proceedings and his loss is still deeply affects the family. Kirin Kiki has a powerful performance as the cheerful and active matriarch who is still grieving the death of the son. Her gruff retired husband is played by Yoshio Harada. The remaining siblings Chinami (played by the singer You-known for her role as the mother in Nobody Knows) and Ryota (Hiroshi Abe) try to navigate the day without too much drama. Ryota in particular feels as though his career as an art restored (rather than doctor), his new wife (a former widow), and son aren't given due respect. Chinami is negotiating moving her family into the childhood home ot look after the parents who seem reluctant to do this. Thus, the usual themes of a Kore-eda film emerge: memory, grief, and loss. Stylistically, there are still life inserts as well as low angle shots of the family on the tatmi and a few that hearken back to other Ozu dramas when the family takes a family photo framed in the sliding screen doorway. This is certainly one of Kore-eda's greatest triumphs and a moving family drama.