I Wish
dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda · 2011
The longing for connection and the hope for change are fundamental aspects of the human experience.
Feature
Coming of Age
Mood
Melancholic / Contemplative
Look
naturalistic cinematography with a soft, almost dreamlike quality
Structure
episodic with a focus on emotional vignettes
Plot
Twelve-year-old Koichi, who has been separated from his brother Ryunosuke due to his parents' divorce, hears a rumor that the new bullet trains will precipitate a wish-granting miracle when they pass each other at top speed.
Why watch
"I Wish" is a tender exploration of childhood longing and the power of belief, beautifully capturing the fragile connections between siblings amidst the backdrop of a family torn apart. With its lyrical storytelling and evocative visual style, this film invites viewers on a nostalgic journey through the eyes of a child seeking magic in everyday life.
Talking points
- the impact of divorce on children
- the nature of familial bonds
- the interplay between imagination and reality
- the significance of childhood rituals
Cultural context
Japanese familial dynamicsmodern urban lifethe impact of divorce on childrensocietal expectations of childhood