A Balance

2020

2h 33m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Foreign

List

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

Documentary director Yuko portrays a school violence incident from three years ago that resulted in suicides, while she was teaching classes at her father’s cram school. As her documentary project progresses, Yuko discovers a hidden truth and becomes deeply involved in the lives of the families pained by that secret.

Read More

Read Less

Austin Considine

New York Times

[A] knotty and suspenseful morality tale...

Jul 28, 2022

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Screen International

A Balance gives a revealing insight into Japan's culture of shame, which spreads like a stain through the lives of anyone touched by rumour or wrongdoing.

Oct 21, 2020

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

A Balance has the look of an understated television documentary of the kind Yuko is trying to create.

Rated: 6/10

Apr 29, 2024

Full Review

Neely Swanson

Easy Reader (California)

This is a fine, worthwhile film led by an extraordinary leading lady, Kawai, and is highly recommended.

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

A Balance seems more like a product of an appalling naivety.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

Mark Schilling

Japan Times

In its honesty about the real-life pitfalls of finding and telling the truth, A Balance is a rare and brave achievement.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 17, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Yujiro Harumoto

Director

Kumi Takiuchi

Yuko Kinoshita

Yumi Kawai

Mei Obata

Masahiro Umeda

Tetsuya Obata

Ken Mitsuishi

Masashi Kinoshita

Yûya Matsuura

Jin Hasebe

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Let Him Go

85%

76%

Let Him Go

TRAILER

for Let Him Go

Up on the Glass

50%

100%

Up on the Glass

TRAILER

for Up on the Glass

The One You Feed

33%

33%

The One You Feed

She Dies Tomorrow

84%

24%

She Dies Tomorrow

TRAILER

for She Dies Tomorrow

I'm Your Woman

81%

49%

I'm Your Woman

TRAILER

for I'm Your Woman

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Documentary director Yuko portrays a school violence incident from three years ago that resulted in suicides, while she was teaching classes at her father’s cram school. As her documentary project progresses, Yuko discovers a hidden truth and becomes deeply involved in the lives of the families pained by that secret.

Director: Yujiro Harumoto
Producer: Yujiro Harumoto, Tetsuya Matsushima, Sunao Katabuchi
Screenwriter: Yujiro Harumoto
Production Co: Harugumi Films
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Foreign
Original Language: Japanese
Runtime: 2h 33m