Shoplifters (2018) [Film Review]

Shoplifters; or, Family Incorporated

     Sometimes it’s better to choose your own family.

Perhaps this is not the best way to start a review, but I remember quite vividly when I saw a TV announcement that a movie called Manbiki Kazoku won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. I was even more surprised to find out that the film was directed by none other than Hirokazu Koreeda. I waited patiently a whole year until I was finally able to check out the critically acclaimed study of what makes a true family. Let's take a look at Shoplifters. 

Release Info

Directed by: Hirokazu Koreeda Starring: Lily Franky, Sakura Ando, Mayu Matsuoka, Kirin Kiki

Language: Japanese Original Title: 万引き家族 Runtime: 121 min

 

Plot

Meet a family of small-time crooks. Osamu (Lily Franky) is a lazy day labourer, his wife Nobuyo (Sakura Ando) works for an industrial laundry service, Aki (Mayu Matsuoka) entertains clients at a hostess club, Shota (Kairi Jo) helps out Osamu in shoplifting, and Hatsue (Kirin Kiki), the grandmother, owns the family home and supports everybody with her deceased husband’s pension. One day, when Osamu and Shota are coming back home, they spot a neighbourhood girl locked out on an apartment balcony. They bring her to their household, intending to only have her stay for dinner, but they choose not to return her after finding evidence of abuse. Yuri (Miyu Sasaki) is nicknamed Lin and she begins to live with her new family.

 

Keeping Up Appearances

Shoplifters is a modern call-back to such classic pictures as Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid (1921) and John Hughes’ Curly Sue (1991). In fact, all three of them focus on the theme of a lonely child receiving friendship and care from people living in extreme poverty. In addition, Koreeda was also heavily inspired by Japanese taboo topics like the economic recession, family abuse, and (of course) people resorted to shoplifting. All of this coupled with Koreeda’s distinct storytelling style results in a very unique story which dares to question traditional conventions of our society.

 

I really do not want to get into any spoilers, but let me just say that the movie starts in a very subtle manner. The characters and the main conflict are outlined in a pretty straightforward way. To be honest, I was afraid that the story would be very manipulative and filled with drama, but the whole tale seemed quite innocent and gentle, almost natural. The gut-wrenching, yet thoughtful, question asked by Nobuyo: “Does giving birth automatically make you a mother?” really hits the mark and I genuinely started rooting for the whole family.

 

However, when the movie entered into the third act, my affection for Shoplifters disappeared in the blink of an eye. Again, no spoilers, but in view of multiple plot twists, I found myself asking: What? Who? Where? Why?! The whole story made such a big U-Turn and left many things unsaid in the process. I felt as if I was dragged into the darkest corner and repeatedly punched in the stomach by Horizaku Koreeda who avidly enjoyed my suffering…

 

That being said, I am not saying that Shoplifters is a bad film; on the contrary, it is a very gripping story. However, it lacks a very much needed closure after two hours of time spent with colourful and exceptional characters. Interestingly, both a highlight and a downside of Shoplifters is that it moves over its characters in order to transcend the ever-trendy critique of Japanese bureaucracy.

 

With regard to performances, I like that Lily Franky was finally given more stuff to do in a Koreeda film. He provides a very sweet interpretation of a “crook father” and, well, I can’t help it, the man has a wonderful voice. Sakura Ando, on the other hand, is the driving force of this picture. Her performance of the head of the family who takes in Yuri is simply outstanding. She is so great in everything she does (*Penance flashbacks*) that she should be given a knighthood of something! The late Kirin Kiki gives one of her best performances out of the many appearances in Koreeda’s films. In my view, she will always be the perfect obachan.

 

Recommendations

I recommend Shoplifters to anyone who is a fan of Koreeda’s works, but I would not call this movie his greatest achievement. I enjoyed Still Walking (2008), Like Father, Like Son (2013), and After the Storm (2016) more. Nevertheless, Shoplifters is still an interesting picture to check out. Apart from focusing on topical issues, it is beautifully shot and the acting is just superb. Give it your attention and you will not regret it.

Overall score: 7/10