After the Storm is the latest film by noted Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda, whose last two films – Our Little Sister and Like Father, Like Son – also screened at the ANU Film Group.

A thoughtful and moving meditation on family life and responsibilities, the film asks questions about what happens when our lives don’t turn out the way we imagined; the sacrifices we make for family; and what, in the end, makes living truly meaningful.

Featuring strong performances by a number of actors that regularly appear in Koreeda’s films, this is a classically made Japanese family drama as only Koreeda can make. It takes place over a few days in the life of former novelist and current private detective Ryota, chronicling his sometimes-tense relationships with his ex-wife, son, and elderly mother, Yoshiko. Not much action occurs beyond the titular storm, which results in the family sheltering together at Yoshiko’s home for the night, but in its quiet moments and conversations, it captures the bittersweet and painful realities of life.