Kûchû teien (Hanging Garden)

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09/25/2011 The Kyobashi family believe in complete honesty with each other. Except of course for the secrets they're not letting on about like adultery, deep inadequacy and love hotels. If it was an English film it would play like a farce. As a Japanese drama, it plays less predictably and surprisingly touching. Definitely worth a watch. <img src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41789_130075223690502_4801_n.jpg"> See more 02/09/2011 One of the best modern Japanese films which are about family. I don't think all of mise-en-scene that the director, Tyoshiaki Toyota, who started as and is a writer, does is successful (most of all, I don't think it was necessary to shake camera that much afterall), and casting seems slightly wrong, but still, I liked the last 30 minutes of the film very much. See more 03/16/2010 A tale about a family which has a 'no secrets' rule, this Japanese film delves into the dysfunctionality of the modern nuclear family. Great characterisation, really innovative camerawork and background score! See more 11/30/2009 Intrigante l'uso della telecamera, profondi i personaggi ed accattivanti molte scelte estetiche, però il film è molto complesso ed andrebbe rivisto almeno un'altra volta per essere capito ed interpretato con più accuratezza... See more 10/26/2009 Happiness comes from hiding the truth. In this family, every day seems to be a great day. Under the family rule:" No secret is allowed in the family". They share their things and inner world with others around the dinning table. They smiled and you can see their happiness faces. Ironically, when you look much deeper, because of this rule, family members, even the rule setter: the mother, have to wear their masks while facing other family members. Originally, the rule is supposed to increase the closeness of each other. However, it even drifts the members apart. The rule makes the happiness faces fake. Every one is acting. The happiness faces are just a tool of stable, not a true sharing of mind and thought. They are just role playing. They are just living in lies. When you have to wear mask at home, what is the meaning of home? When you can feel happy at every minute and every hour, is that happy feeling really a feeling of happiness? Putting a smile on our face can make us happy? Yet, the film not only want us to think of the above but also reveal the reason why the mother will think out this rule. The ending scene is so great: the true happiness that comes from sincere. See more 06/25/2009 exquisite cinematography. a little rough on the edges, but if you've seen toyoda's other movies, you'll find this as a pleasant pattern. I loved the grandmother's character: potty-mouthed/ chain-smoking/ temeperamental/ ironic obachan. See more Read all reviews

Kûchû teien (Hanging Garden)

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