Directed by: Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2018, Japan, 2 hours, R.
In Tokyo, a group lives in poverty due to circumstances that place them in the margins of Japanese life: Osamu, a day laborer forced to leave his job after twisting his ankle; his wife Nobuyo, who works for an industrial laundry service; Aki, who works at a hostess club; Shota, a young boy; and Hatsue, an elderly woman who owns the home and supports the group with her deceased husband’s pension. Two members of the group routinely shoplift goods—and on one especially cold night, they see a neighborhood girl, Kuri, whom they’ve observed being neglected, and invite her for dinner. They decide not to return her after finding evidence of family abuse. Kuri bonds with her new family and joins in their lifestyle. Complications ensue . . .Winner of the Palme d’Or (Best Film) at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Shoplifters has a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ website. This film was nominated for the 2019 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.