Foto di famiglia

A curious film, which captures us gradually, bit by bit, making us smile with a tragic background. The background is the aftermath of the Fukushima tsunami. The film follows a family of good-natured jokers, one of whose sons has a camera, and takes photos of his family in situations they dream of together (e.g. Being a Formula 1 racing team, or being firemen). One is idle, living off his parents. The other is independent and hard-working. In the first part of the film, we follow this family. Then the photographer son leaves. He doesn't know what he wants to do, but he's going to end up working on photos of people who have disappeared in the wake of the disaster, i.e. Showing photos found in the rubble so that people looking for loved ones can at least find photos. These photos come from the homes devastated by the tsunami, collected, cleaned, sorted and exhibited. Then, in the third part of the film, the son tries to exhibit his photos, and returns to his family with his new status and a sweetheart.

The whole thing is dealt with in small, subtle ways, making you smile a lot, but always with an underlying drama. A family of kindly, slightly eccentric people who, in the end, make the most of a life they can't have, a life they can't touch, knowing that it could disappear very quickly, with a future catastrophe.

The Asadas were a happy family out of the ordinary and the story pivots around them and the main character, Masashi, a young photographer trying to deal with an uncertain future and with his cowardly attitude towards challenges.

It is a good storyline, depicting Japan around the time when the Tsunami happened in 2011.

The director tries to keep the audience always awake, although sometimes scenes flow pretty slowly, almost trying to let you think about it, together with Masashi.

It is very light and there is no serious Japanese drama going on for most of the movie, until it does, but this is always very polite and delicate. It is almost trying to dampen the impact of the dramatic aspects and instead trying to steer moods to the brighter side.

When the earthquake happens, Masashi runs leaving his sick father alone with his brother and mother, to go helping people recover lost pictures, he wasn't taking pictures of the tragedy.

He wanted to help connecting through what he knew best.

In some sense it was a picture of the Japanese society at it's best.

That is the essence that I think this movie is attempting to transmit.

During those attempts it is sometimes corny beyond what I call the "reasonable corn limit". Bummer.

It is a movie for everyone, any age pretty much.

I watched it with my 10 years old daughter and she was happy.

We need more movies like this one, we really do.

Based on a true story. The movie introduces us the family of Asada which is full of fun, love and caring. It tells us how meaningful a photo is, particularly in times of hardship. Really an enjoyable movie though you may shed a few drops of tears.

This is a story about the growing up of a photographer. Loved by his elder brother and parents, male lead is free to follow his dream as a family photographer. He shoots picture for his family modelling after fireman, triad society..... His picture wins important award and he starts to shoot family photo as his career.

511 earthquake hit Japan. He went to the suffered area and begin his work to restore photo for the families. 80% of these photos went back to their owners.

He returned home to find his dad sick and has to be hospitalised. Instead of looking after his dad, he returned to the earthquake are continuing his job. Before his leaving, his mum slapped him for the first time for his carefree attitude,but ultimately let him go.

He finished his job in earthquake area and returned, finding that his dad is lying on the death bed at home.....

Overall a movie with heart on a real life person. Reflecting the present attitude and life of young people who are carefree and self centred. But the movie look at this new way of living objectively without any negative view. But as a mother of a young lad, I do hope that youngsters to take care of the elderly while persuing their own goal.

At times the movie may be a little boring, but still a picture worthwhile to watch on thw whole.

The Asadas is a middle-class family living in a small fisherman's village in Japan. The mother provides the sole income to the family, working as a nurse, while a stay-at-home dad takes care of the house and their two sons.

Masashi is the main protagonist. He's the youngest brother and picks up photography from the very young age. However he does it his own way: with love and a prerequisite to fully understand his subject before taking the picture.

Despite cultural gaps (I'm French), the universality of individual choices that makes Masashi and family importance resonated in me.

First, Masashi pursues photography, a true passion of his, despite difficulties that can arise from an artistic career. He initiates projects, driven by inspiration or opportunities, without a clear career plan. As the movie progresses, dots connect. His life is punctuated by moments of doubts, limbo, but also bursts of creativity and compassion. This made me feel hopeful: at the end, if I follow my passion, everything will make sense at the end and I'll be able to contribute positively to the world in my own way.

The movie also stroke my family chord, as it reminded of all the fun and safe moments I have the chance to experience family. It made me appreciate what I have.

I fully recommend yo uto see this movie: it is subtle, heart-warming, and uplifting.