A few years ago I fell in love with the films of Hirokazu Koreeda. I had read that his first feature film, Maborosi, was an amazing, but difficult watch and put it off for some time.
Last week, I took the plunge and it did not disappoint. It’s every bit as remarkable as I had read. It’s easy to understand why it has the reputation it has for many reasons, ranging from its leisurely pacing to its delicate subject matter.
Maborosi tells the story of Yumiko (Makiko Esumi), a young woman that has her world shattered when her husband commits suicide out of the blue, leaving her and her infant child behind. No warning. No explanation.
This is entire film is an expression of grief.
Every frame is beautifully crafted to convey this feeling. Yumiko is in shock. Confused and left with no answers, she keeps her emotions locked silently inside as time slowly passes by.
Koreeda expertedly uses the natural world to express Yumiko’s inner world. Overcast days. Rain. Monsoons. Dimly lit interiors.
In one scene, after receiving news of her husband’s death, Yumiko rides in the back of a police car on the way to identify his body. You can imagine her shock and grief, but Yumiko does not show it. Outside the car, the world is dark and rain-soaked, a perfect reflection of her inner world. It’s truly beautiful and heartbreaking.
Months later, Yumiko’s marriage is arranged to Tamio, a widower who lives in a rural seaside village with his young daughter. Her family, seeing her state of shock, encourages the match as a way for her and Tamio to find some stability, both for themselves and for their children.
As strange as this decision sounds, it isn’t too hard to understand. Yumiko’s new husband is on a similar path of grief, and their two stories coming together only deepens the journey of this film.
This might be my favorite Hirokazu Kore-eda film, which is saying a lot with films like Still Walking, Broker, Shoplifters, and Monster on his résumé. Maborosi is a debut, yet it plays like a masterwork right out of the gate. It’s so simple and effective.
I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a visual meditation that will stay with you long after the credits roll. It’s been on my mind ever since watching it.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the film after watching.
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