At the end of any given year, many people compile and best films of the year list – whether personal or press – and, for me, Hirokazu Koreeda snatched a combined number one spot with his 2013 films I Wish and Like Father like Son. So reviewing the latest of the two to get blu-ray release should be a foregone conclusion. If nothing else, Hirokazu Koreeda is safe in his predictability, while all of his films are somewhere between good and pheromonal, they will always be about finding strength in the family unit. In an increasingly complicated world, safe, predictable family values like celebrated in Koreeda’s latest film cannot be overlooked or looked down on as “slight”.
The Japanese auteur’s 11th film trades on the simplest of premises: What if your new-born baby was confused with another family’s child? Is that mistaken child yours or does the other family have your child – it’s the classic nature vs nurture argument. The two families are the Nonomiya’s, of whom Ryota (Masaharu Fukuyama) is solely driven by money and his opposite in this horrible situation is Yudai Saiki (Lily Franky), a man-child who lives for his family. Like Father like Son sees the two families swap Son’s in order to attempt to rectify the initial mistake by the hospital, despite the protestations of Midori Nonomiya (Machiko Ono).
The history of Japanese cinema can be filled into two groups, the insane visual stylists and the minimalists. Hirokazu could never be accused of being a stylist, instead, his films evoke the quiet introspection of your Mizoguchi’s and Ozu’s. In that regard, he champions something much more interesting – substance.
Hirokazu takes the topic of what it means to be a Father and enjoys a great deal of success through his trademark straightforwardness. The honesty of the children and the childishness of Saiki are sources of comedy, broad perhaps but consistently accessible and lovely. Additionally, the script develops in some trite directions, for example, the ‘Bad Dad’ in Ryota learning what it truly means to be a Father as a consequence of the downright neglect of his Wife and Son. Perceived shortcomings to one side, his work soars thanks to the emotional honesty weaved into his script and the purity of the performances he gets from his actors.
There are few directors working today who can capture the beauty of human relationships and every day with the subtlety of Koreeda Hirokazu
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
The apex of Hirokazu’s masterful ability to get the best performances is at its most potent in his child actors. Young actors in cinema are getting better year on year, but there is no one as consistently good as this man. Keita (Keita Ninomiya) and Ryusei (Shogen Hwang) are wonderful. Their performances are the perfect amalgamation of the directors understanding of the wide-eyed innocence and curiosity of childhood. There are countless occasions of comedy founded in the simple headed honesty of the kids and just as many scenes where you are fighting off tears. With its emotional depth, Like Father like Son is as complete a drama as you are likely to see.
That ability to capture the delightful innocence of childhood is second to none, what’s more, there are few directors working today who can capture the beauty of human relationships and every day with the subtlety of Koreeda Hirokazu. The director may not be interested in the art of this visual medium, but as a storyteller, there are few people who come close to the Japanese Master and Like Father like Son sees him at his very best. Feeling down? Koreeda Hirokazu is what you need.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON IS OUT ON ARROW FILM BLU-RAY
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