Shoplifters shines attention on two phenomena eroding Japan's social foundation: underemployment and gentrification. Most people have jobs, but they're menial and low-paying.
Kore-eda marshals his considerable talents to tell what initially appears to be another story of family love and perseverance in the margins of society.
This near masterpiece made me think for long periods of time, meaning that its message and purpose were conveyed with a glorious sense of accomplishment.
Kore-eda is at his best when he's suppressing his sentimentality, not when he's indulging it, but like his characters, fans of this inspired filmmaker must learn to take the good with the bad.
It's all beautifully done, if seemingly aimless; for most of its two-hour runtime, the joy of the movie lies mostly in watching these fine actors build their beautifully flawed and lived-in characters.
Writer-director Hirokazu Kore-eda fills the film with grace notes, humor and fine observations, circling and filling out each character while leaning more on innocence than corruption.
