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 child support. After the death of his father, his mother (Kirin Kiki) and beautiful ex-wife (Yoko Make) move on with their lives. Renewing contact with his family, Ryota struggles to take back control of his existence and to find a lasting place in the life of his young son (Taiyo Yoshizawa)—until a stormy summer night offers them a chance to truly bond again.
After The Storm (Umi yori mo mada fukaku)
- Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
- 2016, in Japanese with English subtitles
- Japan, 117 minutes
Tickets: Visit www.mfah.org
See a roundup of up critics’ reviews.
“It’s hard to think of another filmmaker who maps the emotional landscape of divorce-torn families as precisely as Kore-eda. Predicated on the revelatory power of shared meals and small talk, After the Storm builds to a scene of three people running around in a heavy downpour—a wistful, funny, and indelible vision of a family coming together to chase an impossibly happy dream.” —Los Angeles Times
“After the Storm benefits from a lead character with some gratifyingly sharp edges, lending the film real dramatic stakes even as it retains a surface serenity.” —Movie Mezzanine
“Warmly funny . . . beautifully acted by a great cast, it’s a film that sticks with you.” —New York Times
“Wonderful! Has special warmth and grace.” —Wall Street Journal
“Kore-eda isn’t just one of the world’s best filmmakers, but one of its most indispensable artists.” —Village Voice
“Kore-eda may only make good movies, but After the Storm is one of his best.” —IndieWire
“One of the year’s most affecting, humanistic films.” —The Film Stage
“A rich, thoughtful character study that stands with its author’s finest work.” —Now Magazine