Our Little Sister: one mark of how good KORE-EDA Hirokazu’s drama is, is that after it’s finished, it felt too short by half. Gentle, insightful, and humane, the film tells the story of three sisters, abandoned by both parents many years before, who invite their barely met half-sister to live with them after the passing of their father. Looking into their loving relationships with each other (and conflicted as only loving relationships can be), as well as with people from each of their lives, this is a marvelous film that is hard to watch without constantly smiling. The acting is exquisite, quiet, effective: AYASE Haruka plays the serious oldest sister; NAGASAWA Masami the lively second oldest, Kaho the tomboy-ish youngest, and HIROSE Suzu, the high-schooler half-sister; their chemistry is quite good.

The coastal town makes for a great location. Cinematographer TAKIMOTO Mikiya captures the action and locale with an elegant and unobtrusive camerawork; KORE-EDA’s editing work gives the film an easy-going and pleasant pace. Composer KANNO Yooko’s musical score is lovely.