Shoplifters tells the story of an unusual family -- members are not connected by bonds of blood but of choice. A aged pensioner has opened her home to a down-on-their-luck couple, the daughter of her ex-husband's new family who is playing hooky from her school and two neglected children found on the street. Furthermore, they scrape by in part by engaging in shoplifting. This is not your grandfather's (read Ozu's) vision of family life. Nonetheless, characters in the film share bonds of affection, offer advice and participate together in rites of passage and call each other (or in some cases do not) by names of familial relations. Sometimes they even discuss whether their arrangement is even better than a traditional family ("Less expectations" the grandma says on the beach). Is the "family" in the film a real family -- or are they just pretending? Are bonds of blood better or worse or equivalent to bonds of choice (and are these bonds really about choice)? Does the fact that these relationships are also financial and that "family" members were willing to abandon each other negate the worth of these bonds? What is the film saying about what makes a family?
While the bonds forged by the group in Shoplifters can be compared to a family, the debate whether they are forged by love or exploitation can be discussed heavily. While there are moments in the film in which they seem to have love for each other, such as the beach scenes, and in how Lin and Aki relate to each other via their familial trauma, there are other scenes in the film where you can question if the group loves each other like a family or not, like when they were planning to run away and abandon Shota in the hospital. The claim can be made that they act like a family out of desperation; their bond not out of care, but out of the need to come together to survive, although it is also present that they do shoplift out of greed. The question of whether a bond made to exploit is still a valid, loving familial bond can be asked, as even if the nature of the bonds are only to use and depend on each other, can they still love each other as individuals? The love shown throughout the film feels so genuine, especially during scenes such as the fireworks scene, and the bond that grows between Lin and Shota. Almost everyone in the film lives or has lived a life of hardship, Aki having been abused as a child, Lin having also been abused and neglected by her parents, Shota having been left in the car as a kid, Nobuyo killing her ex-husband, and Osamu having only to learn how to shoplift to properly get by. Even if the characters themselves are tainted by their past and their current situation, they still appear to be able to love each other like a family to a degree.
ReplyDeleteThe foundation of the familial relationship in Shoplifters come from their common need for economic support. While each member supports the "family" (even the kids, through shoplifting), the adults are quick to negelect or manipulate eachother in favor of their own personal needs. For example, after the death of the Hatsue (the Grandma), Osamu and Nobuyo quickly and quietly hide her corpse in order to keep receiving the pension that their family has become so reliant on. Rather than attempting to treat their elder with respect by providing her with a proper burial, the two commit another crime in order to maintain the lives they have.
ReplyDeleteDespite the many selfish and criminal actions throughout the film, the characters show that they have not lost their humanity. Lin/Yuri is first picked up by the family when they see her left outside of her home at night. Despite their desperate financial situation, they still give her food and a place to stay for the night. It is only upon seeing her scars/signs of abuse that they decide to not return her to her home and give her a better life than her real family. Osamu and Aki show that they care for the wellbeing of children, and later into the film we learn that they were unable to have children due to some sort of complication. Their desire to be a mother and father is what returns some sense of morality to them. Unfortunately, they fail to be good parents to the children (its likely however that they were better than what the children had previously) as they fail to teach them proper morals surrounding theft. Shota's caring for Lin/Yuri also becomes apparent when he tells her to stay outside the store so that she is not involved in the theft. When she fails to follow his instructions, he creates a ruckus and steals the oranges in order to distract the employees into chasing him, effectively taking the fall for his little sister.
The characters in Shoplifters form a family of convenience and neccesity, not one of love. However, the desires of the characters lead them to occassionally break this narrative.
The film Shoplifters by Hirokazu Kore-eda tells the story of an unusual family in Tokyo. In a “family” of 4, the mother and father are unable to have kids. They take in a young girl named Yuri who was abandoned and looking for somewhere to go. They also end up taking in a young boy named Shota from a car. For the most part, they showed the kids what true love in a family looked like. They go on vacations and they spend time together and they care for them. The mother and Yuri begin to build a special bond as the film goes on, she seems to have a soft spot for her. As the film goes on we discover that the parents have a criminal background, this is when their “family” is put at risk. While the young boy, Shota was at the hospital for getting caught shoplifting, the parents had to make a hard decision they either wanted to support Shota and get caught for how they have been living. Or abandon him and hopefully get away with what they have been doing for several years. Since they technically kidnapped Yuri and Shota, they risk being put in jail and losing their kids. This ends up being a turning point in the movie as we see the parents decide to abandon him at the hospital. Being in this situation must be a tough call. From the viewer's perspective, this is not what a family would do. Parents do what is best for their children and that means getting caught for all the criminal acts they have been committing over the years. So be it. Though I think the parents had good intentions for Yuri and Shota, the way they approached it and lived their lives was not the smartest.
ReplyDelete"Shoplifters," directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, raises profound questions about the nature of family and challenges traditional notions of familial bonds. The film presents a unique family that has come together not through blood ties but through choice and circumstance. Despite the unconventional origins of their relationships, the characters in the film clearly share strong emotional connections, offering each other affection, advice, and participating in important life events. These bonds are not solely defined by the absence of blood ties but rather by the love, support, and sense of belonging that the characters find within this chosen family.
ReplyDeleteThe film suggests that the concept of family is not limited to blood relations and that bonds of choice can be just as powerful, if not more so. It explores the idea that traditional families may come with more expectations and potentially more dysfunction, whereas the chosen family in the film provides a sense of freedom and non-judgment. However, the financial aspects and the characters' willingness to abandon each other do raise questions about the authenticity and sustainability of these bonds. "Shoplifters" ultimately challenges viewers to consider what truly defines a family – is it the blood connection or the emotional and moral support that people offer to one another? The film seems to suggest that family is less about blood and more about the genuine love, care, and acceptance that individuals provide, regardless of their origins.
"Shoplifters," directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, delves into the intricate dynamics of a family formed by choice rather than blood. The film introduces us to an unconventional family that includes a grandmother relying on her deceased husband's pension, a dubious couple, a truant daughter, and two neglected children rescued from the streets. This unlikely assortment of individuals challenges conventional notions of what constitutes a family.
ReplyDeleteThe film beautifully illustrates how bonds can transcend blood relations, emphasizing that the essence of family lies in the genuine affection, support, and shared experiences between its members. One of the most poignant moments occurs when the family visits the beach together, symbolizing their unity and the meaningful activities they partake in.
What sets this "family" apart is the absence of traditional blood-related obligations, a factor that, at times, leads them to question whether their arrangement is more liberating. The lack of conventional expectations fosters an environment of choice and genuine care, where they thrive as a non-traditional yet loving family.
The film's message resonates in a world where economic hardships often drive families apart. While financial struggles and shoplifting play a crucial role in their survival, these elements do not diminish the worth of their bonds. "Shoplifters" reminds us that what truly makes a family is love, support, and shared experiences. The film underscores the idea that family is not solely defined by blood ties but by the conscious choices and meaningful connections that bind us.
The film Shoplifters portrays a found family that relies on each other to get by. All the members of the family come from different places whether that be abandoned by their parents, neglected, alone, or previously having been in trouble with the law. Just because they are not a family by blood does not make them any less of a family. What makes a family is how they interact with each other and how much they care for one another. Each member of the family not only deeply cares for one other but is also willing to make sacrifices for others. At the beginning of the film, the family takes on Lin even though it would hurt their already rough economic situation. This is not the first time they did something like this as Shota was found alone in a car years before. The family took the two of them in because they care about people’s well-being even if it hurts them. While the family does take advantage of each other it seems to be for the benefit of the family as a whole. Shota and Lin are used to steal from stores but without their theft, the family could not access things it needs like shampoo. The grandmother is used for her pension but without the rest of the family, she would have died alone which she didn’t want. Near the end of the film, the mother takes full responsibility for the crimes so her husband wouldn't get a prison sentence. While the family is not related by blood and they take advantage of each other they do it for the sake of the family at large and they care so deeply for one another that they are willing to send themselves to prison so the other can go free.
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