Our Family is a lovely Japanese domestic tale, which mixed drama and humour to really good effect. It almost exclusively focuses on four characters, of a somewhat dysfunctional family. Mother, father and two grown up sons all have their lives thrown off course when the mother, the only one who can relate to any of the others, is diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The film generally focuses on one member of the family for a stretch of time, and instead of feeling artificial, this is a genuinely and sweetly convincing way of establishing each character and then allowing each to develop into someone new, changed by the circumstances they found themself in. Both sons travel on a compelling arc, from opposite poles of personality to a much closer centre, but this is handled well in a way that doesn't feel trite or reductive. There is an undercurrent emotion of life unfulfilled with every character, but this is always mixed in with a sense of optimism and genuine love for each other, even when there isn't understanding.
The skill of the film is, not only is it both genuinely tense and dramatic - and also funny - but that it is sincere and heartfelt without being sentimental. Emotion, whether under the surface or breaking through, is handled deftly by both director Yuya Ishii and the talented cast.
The stoic but hopeful Kasuke in particular is a brilliantly realised and sympathetic character, one that you cannot help but want to find a way through. Through him, and the others, particularly as he brings out the best in his brother and father, I was pulled into this refreshingly lovely, honest and warm family drama.
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