Diary of a Cinephile

A Japanese family drama directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. There are two kinds of good movies, one which is made well and one which has a good message. This films has both kind of goodness. The film tells the story about a family which involves in petty thefts adopting a small girl found on the roadside after going through abuse at home. The relationship shown between the adopted daughter and the other family members especially with the son is beautifully portrayed. The two child actors were excellent. The movie has very interesting and intelligently placed plot twists which gives the movie a meaning in another level. The movie questions the family values in modern society and asks us to introspect our family values. The movie also shows the rampant poverty in the society and amidst it how humanity is prevailing. While we attribute many evils in the society to poverty, we fail to appreciate the humanity in it. It also shows the problem with legal system with regard to child abuse and custo

An Italian movie directed by Marco Tullio Giordana, with a running time of 6 hours released in two parts. It is a slow watch for 6 hours but the movie is worth the time spent. In an industry, where movie time is shrunken to 1-2 hours, with unnecessary cuts and edits this is movie is a craft by the director and a great watch to the audience. Kudos to the director and the team for taking the risk and challenge. The movie follows the life of two brothers (Nicola and Matteo) and their family through the years 1966 to 2003. It portrays the aspirations of two brothers and how they end up in two separate pathways  and they falling in love, falling out of love. While telling a believable family saga, the movie also shows the sociopolitical events in Italy during that period. Neither the family saga or the political events come as forced events but feels natural part of the ongoing story. It touches on the leftist movement in Italy, corruption in the Italian society by both politicians and the