Closing on Thursday, October 31st 2013

The latest film from Japanese master Kore-eda illustrates why he is often cited as an heir to Ozu in creating astute, humane family portraits. It has a classic nature versus nurture premise which asks what would happen if it were discovered two children had been swapped at birth?

This is the bombshell that the Nonomiya family has to deal with when they take a phone call to be told that Keita, the six-year-old boy they have raised, is not their son; the hospital let them leave with the wrong baby. The news is particularly hard for father Ryota to take. A stern, self-made businessman, Ryota starts to question whether he ever loved Keita, and struggles to connect with his actual child, Ryusei, who has been brought up in a loving environment by the Saiki family in spite of their comparatively meagre resources. (Notes by Michael Hayden.)