Shoplifters

Shoplifters can be best described as a poignant exploration of the definition of family, enveloped in a captivating narrative that seamlessly intertwines contrasting themes of benevolence and morality. Written and directed by the acclaimed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, this 2018 movie leaves a lasting emotional impression on the audience. It stars a well-rounded ensemble cast led by Lily Franky, Sakura Ando, and Kirin Kiki.

Set in Tokyo, Shoplifters tells the story of an unconventional family surviving on the margins of society. At the heart of this crew is Lily Franky playing Osamu Shibata, a day laborer who, despite his unsteady source of income, maintains an incredible sense of responsibility for the clan he presides over. Sakura Ando impressively portrays Nobuyo, Osamu's wife, a woman undermined in her workplace but whose real ounce of strength is seen in the care and compassion she provides for her family.

The plot thickens when one freezing night, on their way back from a usual shoplifting spree, Osamu and his son, Shota, discover Yuri, a lonely little girl. Undernourished, scared, and bearing signs of abuse, they decide to take her in. Introducing her to a lifestyle far from conventional, yet surprisingly loving and empathetic, they provide her with care and warmth she never had. The film delves into the intricacies of their relationship, showcasing a poignant exploration the bond they form with her, a bond as strong as any biological connection.

Shoplifters paints a grim picture of poverty and struggle but couples it with antidotes of love, resilience, and shared happiness. A renowned actress like Kirin Kiki perfectly fits such a portrayal as she plays the aging matriarch Hatsue, a woman grappling with her past but maintaining a soft spot for this makeshift family that resides in her dilapidating bungalow. Her interactions with the other characters bring out the deeply emotional and heart-touching aspects of the film - a depiction of love, support, and bond beyond any societal definition of a family.

The film exudes a raw authenticity. It's a story that offers commentary on the institutions and societal structures that have failed these characters. Their individual plight is not oversimplified or romanticized, yet there's an element of joy, humor, and love in their daily struggle of survival. The characters feel genuine, vivid, and layered, with every actor delivering a heartfelt performance.

Kore-eda’s storytelling is nuanced, focusing on the subtleties of life and emotions rather than grand gestures or overdramatic scenes. He artfully challenges the viewer's preconceptions, encouraging them to question the boundaries of ethic, morality, and love, without ever truly passing judgment. At its essence, Shoplifters is a marvel of humanist cinema testing the waters of moral ambiguity while underscoring the power of emotional connectivity.

Audiences are plunged into the cluttered, warm, and cosy dwelling of this family, their small joys, their shared meals, trips to the beach, and even their misdemeanors which are all captured beautifully. And the charm of the movie lies in this mundane simplicity, its slow-paced narrative, generating a charm that's unmistakably endearing and quietly disquieting at the same time.

Special mention has to go to the mise-en-scène and cinematography that envelope the film. The scenes are rigged with a rather earthy, lived-in atmosphere, perhaps symbolic of the life that our main characters lead. The film’s precise, tranquil photography and sensitive scoring further intensify the impact of the narrative.

Although primarily a drama, Shoplifters is far from a tear-jerking tragedy. It successfully intertwines humor, joy, melancholy, and heartbreak, resulting in a narrative that is riveting, thought-provoking and deeply touching. It gives viewers a startling intimate look into the lives of its characters, their choices, and their unconventional relationships, thereby stirring the viewers to question long-held beliefs about what constitutes a family.

Shoplifters is a heartfelt tour de force that embraces and explores human complexity in the face of hardship, thereby standing as an enduring testament to Kore-eda's cinematic genius. By its end, Shoplifters will leave the audience in a heartrending tumult of emotions, deeply moved and quietly reflective, pondering over the true meaning of the family. It's a story that might not always be comfortable to watch, but it's certainly one that needs to be told and remembered.