Shoplifters

Shoplifters is a drama surrounding a non-biological family who depends on shoplifting to cope with their everyday life of poverty. Writer-director Hirokazu Kore-eda tears a slice of a sub-society in the Japanese community to tell us a heartbreaking tale with ultra-realistic characters and acting performances. The expertly done production design helps to show how the house is truly dwelled by real people!

As aforementioned, the realism portrayed here is the strongest aspect of Shoplifters. You will not look at any of the personas present in this movie and say they are actors, because the thespians have actually lived their lives as their assigned characters. And from start to finish, you are presented opportunities to witness the dynamic between each of these characters in this family of six. You'll see how each of them long to find a connection over familiarity. Thematic questions such as the possibility of family bond being stronger when you get to choose your own family members and do you have to give birth to be a mother are discussed in the subtlest ways.

There's also a little arc communicated through the son having double thoughts about the crime he's been committing, which eventually kicks start the whole collapse process. Grandma hiding age spots with beach sand, burying cadaver inside house, 'father' talking about puberty, erection and boobs to his 'son', learning about the couples' murderous past and 'son' calling his 'father' 'Dad' for the first time as the latter chases after the former's bus are some of the best scenes to watch out for in an otherwise pale film.