Shoplifters (Manbiki kazoku)

About

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda (Japan, 2018)
Certification: 15 | 2h 1 min | Crime, Drama | Language: Japanese with English subtitles

After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu's wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making enough money to survive through petty crime, they seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets, testing the bonds that unite them.
Hirokazu Koreeda is one the most representative Japanese contemporary filmmakers with a particular style and interest on intimate and family dramas. He is very recognised in the film festival circuit and he has been in the feature competition five times at Cannes winning the Palme d'Or in 2018 for Shoplifters. Previously, in 2013 Like Father, Like Son took the Jury's Award at Cannes. In 2019, Shoplifters was nominated for the Bafta for Best Film Not in the English Language, and the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.

★★★★★ "It is a movie made up of delicate brushstrokes: details, moments, looks and smiles… A rich, satisfying and deeply intelligent film" – The Guardian

★★★★ "Shoplifters feels like a natural extension of themes that Kore-eda has been exploring his entire career regarding family, inequity, and the unseen residents of a crowded city like Tokyo" – Rogerebert.com

With support from the BFI Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) awarding funds from The National Lottery.