Nobody Knows (2004)

AKA: Dare Mo Shiranai
Directed by: Hirokazu Koreeda
Starring: Yuya Yagira (Akira), Ayu Kitaura (Kyoko), Hiei Kimura (Shigeru), Momoko Shimizu (Yuki), You (Mother), Hanae Kan (Saki)
Country: Japan; Effed Up Asian Movies
Language: Japanese (Eng Subs); Effed Up Japanese Cinema
Runtime: 02:20:36
Genres: Based on a True Story, Childhood, Misery-Depressing

Plot – Spoilers:
A mother and her 12-year-old son move into a Tokyo apartment. As they unpack, out from their suitcases pop a couple of kids. The kids were transported locked and hidden in the bags, because of previous trouble finding accommodation. In all, there are four kids, each with likely a different father. There are strict rules on behavior, enforced by mom, and it’s suggested that some of these in the past were creative and included enemas and eating peppers.

The rules are simple – only the oldest boy, Akira, is allowed out. The rest have to stay in all day and night, and not even venture into the balcony. And why should they. They don’t go to school and aren’t encouraged to socialize with other kids anyway.

The kids are well-trained and know better to always smile in the darkest and most restrictive of times. Mother too seems nice when rules are being followed, until she finds a new love and ups and leaves. The goodbye-note carries a little money and a promise to return. The onus is now on Akira to juggle the finances ignoring the arcade temptingly nearby, and to also keep spirits up during the cold winter where a birthday treat for the littlest girl is to step outside wearing her favorite squeaky shoes

Massive Spoilers:
Based on a true story that had a more grim event in it – the smallest child was killed by the oldest boy’s friend whom he then assisted in burying the body. But despite not going there, and its 2.5 hour length, Nobody Knows never bores or tires of holding on to its bleakness. And this is mostly down to the extraordinary achievement by the director in extracting natural performances from all the kids.