Reviews

Taiga Nakano gives a raw performance as a social pariah who attempts to make amends with his family and town in Takuma Sato’s film.

Kana Yamada’s film about a motley crew of employees at an escort agency called Crazy Bunny is based on her own stage play.

Hitoshi Yazaki turns Kana Nishino’s novel about a family overcoming tragedy with the help of their dog into an amiable but wildly uneven drama.

Shuichi Okita’s film about a lonely elderly woman searching for meaning in her life presents old age with humor and pathos.

Natsuki Seta’s playful adaptation of a manga by Kyoko Okazaki avoids the more conventional plot points of "seishun eiga" (youth films).

Cannes winner Shinji Aoyama and the pop group collective Exile Tribe joined forces for this film about the complexities of personal relationships.

Hideyuki Tokigawa’s film romanticizes the heyday of Hiroshima’s strip theaters and the dancers who brought late-night fantasies to life.

Naomi Kawase’s drama tackles child adoption and teenage pregnancy with seriousness and compassion, while drawing a stand-out performance from Aju Makita.

Takeshi Fukunaga’s film centered on the indigenous people of northern Japan tells the story of a 14-year-old boy learning to appreciate his heritage.