Drama

Dear Etranger

幼な子われらに生まれ

Directed by: Yukiko Mishima
2017 / 127 minutes / MA

日本語の解説は映画.comへ

An honest and nuanced drama about step families

Screened as part of JFF 2017

Dear Etranger is a frank and humane portrait of step-families, one fraught with misunderstanding and emotional challenges.

Shinichi is a model father to his family, always quick to leave the office to spend time with his two step-daughters Kaoru and Eri. He never misses a catch-up day with his biological child Saori either. But when his wife announces she’s pregnant, the delicate balance is thrown off: Kaoru starts rebelling and, unfortunately, he loses his managerial post at work.

You won’t find picture-perfect families, the adults can be clumsy, and the adolescents are understandably unreasonable. While imperfect is one word to describe the characters, Director Yukiko Mishima gently reminds us that they are also regular people living regular lives. With an excellent cast led by Tadanobu Asano (Silenced, Harmonium, Journey to the Shore), Mishima tells a humane and nuanced story about family and relationships.