So hey, I celebrated by washing up my huge pile of laundry, cleaned the toilets, vacuumed the floor. That is what freedom smells like when you are living along in a foreign country. Of course, I tried to compensate by going to catch a really good show- Nobody Knows, which is a pure 140mins worth of heartbreaking, bitter-sweet, emotion-provoking, big-sighing movie.
Based on a true story about a mother's abandonment of her 4 children in a small apartment in Japan, the story revolves around the lives 4 children and how innocent and ironic joy can be found interwoven into the overhanging tragedy. It does not try to overdramatize the plight of the children, nor pit the audience against the heinous irresponsibility of the mother, but through nuances, elicit a silly kind of joy that everyone can identify with- the squeaking slipper, seeds planted in styroform Nissin noodles cup.
The movie is directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, and admittedly, took a longer time to come around to this part of the world. Featured in the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, it saw 12 year old actor Yuya Yagira took home the coverted title for 'Best Actor'. I personally prefer the absolutely adorable 4 year old Shimizu Momoko, whose amazing acting and drop-dead cutie pie face won my heart after the first 20 mins.
Friends in Singapore will be mad to know that they have missed such a great show (it was shown in cinemas last Dec), but for my Melbourne friends, it's not too late to catch this at NOVA. It's worth every bit of your cents.
That being said, I had a great brekky at Nonya Hut at Glen Waverley this morning, with Nonya kueh and the works. That my friend, is the real smell of freedom!
Nobody Knows
