‘Shoplifters’ director Hirokazu Kore-eda won top prize at Cannes, then faced fury for shaming Japan
Cannes acclaim quickly turned to criticism for Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda
Hirokazu Kore-eda was feted when he became the first Japanese director to lift the award in 21 years, with an editorial in the Sankei newspaper declaring:“The film impressed the rest of the world with the power and depth of Japanese cinema, not only evoking an interest in ancient Japanese culture, but achieving recognition for its message, which tackles the universal theme of family.”
That acclaim quickly turned to criticism, however, after the film’s release in Japan in June.
The story focuses on a poor family existing on the fringes of Tokyo society and the daily struggles they face to make ends meet.
The father does odd jobs to earn a living, but the family resorts to shoplifting when times are particularly tough.
Nevertheless, they take in a homeless girl and become her surrogate family, an event which leads to the unravelling of a number of secrets.