TIFF ‘08 Preview: Still Walking

Put simply, Hirokazu Kore-eda is one of Japan’s finest filmmakers. His films are beautiful and lyrical, and infused with a gentle, human warmth — whether they’re dealing with death and the after-life (Afterlife), the plight of abandoned children (Nobody Knows), or vengeance-seeking samurai (Hana). As such, his films always receive “must watch” status from me.

And his latest, Still Walking, seems tailor made for the director’s strengths. Here’s the synopsis, courtesy of Celluloid Dreams:

Still Walking, is a family drama about grown children visiting their elderly parents, which unfolds over one summer day. The aging parents have lived in the family home for decades. Their son and daughter return for a rare family reunion, bringing their own families with them. They have gathered to commemorate the tragic death of the eldest son, who drowned in an accident fifteen years ago. Although the roomy house is as comforting and unchanging as the mother’s homemade feast, everyone in the family has subtly changed. This is a typical dysfunctional family, bonded by love as well as resentments and secrets. With a subtle balance of gentle humor and wistful sorrow, Kore-eda portrays just how precious and exactly how annoying, family can be.

You had me at “gentle humor and wistful sorrow.”