The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2023
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (2023, Japan)
Directors: Hirokazu Kore-eda, Hiroshi Okuyama, Takuma Sato & Megumi Tsuno
Writers: Hirokazu Kore-eda, Takuma Sato, Megumi Tsuno & Mami Sunada
Mini-review:
I love Hirokazu Kore-eda's style, and you can feel his hand throughout the nine episodes, even if he worked with more people. This show is such a lovely, soothing and relaxing experience. Nothing much happens (it's a classic slice of life story), but if you enjoy its vibes, it never gets boring. Sure, maybe it could have used a doses or two of drama, but at the same time I feel like that would have shattered the peaceful atmosphere it carefully builds from the first episode. I do wish the show would have delved into the many controversies and problems that surround the maiko/geiko industry, specially considering Kore-eda has strongly supported the #MeToo movement within the Japanese film world, but, once again, I get that something like that would have gone against the whole point of the show.
Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling here. The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House is quite lovely and as well acted and sensitively written/directed as one could expect from Hirokazu Kore-eda. Also, make sure to watch it on a full stomach, cause there's a lot of delicious-looking food here that will certainly make you go hungry.
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The Parades (29 Feb 2024) on Netflix by Japanese Drama and Movie
Minako (Masami Nagasawa) passed away leaving behind her regrets, participates in a "parade" where the dead gather once a month to find the person they each wanted to meet.
Also stars Sakaguchi Kentaro, Yokohama Ryusei, Mori Nana, Lily Franky, Terajima Shinobu and Tanaka Tetsuji.
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Bad City - Kensuke Sonomura 2022
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"Pais e filhos" (Soshite chichi ni naru) - mubi.
Mais um que estava na lista do Mubi aguardando seu dia. Filme ganhador de vários prêmios internacionais, inclusive da Mostra Internacional de São Paulo. Seu mote é a troca de crianças ainda na maternidade e a posterior descoberta do acontecido. Bora ver!
depois de ver: um grande filme! que facilmente cairia no melodrama latino, mas o oriente tem outra maneira de lidar. grande atuação dos garotos e uma pena vermos pouco a perspectiva das esposas.
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Shoplifters (2018, dir. Hirokazu Koreeda) - review by Rookie-Critic
Shoplifters, my first foray into the works of Koreeda, was, frankly, a masterpiece. A movie that shows that it's ok to not have it all together, and that your family is whoever you choose it to be. A tragic, but beautiful tale of a found family tied together by a matriarchal grandmother that are all just trying to get by in their own way. Our protagonists have their flaws, but instead of judging them for it, Koreeda weaves those traits into the exact things you find endearing about them. These characters feel like people that actually exist, and probably do. Some characters have happier endings than others, and at the end of the day everything is not ok, but that stark realism just breathes that much more life into the frames of this film. This is a highly recommended viewing if you can find it.
Score: 10/10
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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161. Pais e Filhos (そして父になる, 2013), dir. Hirokazu Koreeda
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The Parades
Movies watched in 2024
The Parades (2024, Japan)
Director & Writer: Michihito Fujii
Mini-review:
Wow, what a beautiful film. It's true that there are similar stories out there, but this one is told with such warmness and gentleness that I couldn't help but fall in love with it. If anything, my only complain is that it should have been a miniseries or something like that, cause I wanted to spend more time in this world and with these characters. But truly, this star-studded cast does one hell of a job, even the actors with less scenes or smaller roles. And the cinematography is simply stunning. The whole movie looks gorgeous, to the point of being awe-inspiring, and it has quite a few unforgettable shots. Oh, there are also a couple of triggering moments, so be careful with that. But yeah, I loved The Parades so, so much. I'll have to look up more of this director's work.
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