Just watched it. It was okay, didn't really have expectations watching it. Story felt real like something out of a sad documentary. Like it gets more fucked up as the movie progresses and learn about how they all ended up together. It's kind of a depressing slice of life family film with cute moments and food. And what's with the signal? I know the circling of fingers thing (when I was a kid) was to stop your poop lol!

1. Looks like it, all types of sexual shows are available in Japan I guess. And have to be a single underwear (customer complained when wearing 2 panties)

2. Aki is the daughter of Grandma's ex husband's son. Seems to me like she's typical rebel from rich family (using her sister's name at work and laughing about it) and would prefer living with the Grandma who understands her - they seem very close even if not related by blood. Like even without the grandma she will still runaway. Only thing she didn't know was the grandma visits her parents regularly and gives her money (out of guilt? since grandma's ex husband abandoned her for a new family).

3. No choice on their part since police took control of the situation. Media also played a part on that, the mother obviously played victim (ala Gone Girl). When she was putting on makeup she suddenly played nice mom but Yuri saw through her. Plus Yuri didn't seem to tell the police about the abuse from real parents. Even if it shows that she likes her fake family - with the murder record of Omasu's husband plus another boy with them who is not really their son and the dead grandmother buried in the house - can easily be labeled as kidnappers.

4. I thought she was gonna jump! Sad ending, open for interpretation but the fact that I thought that means she will not have an easy life and will probably end up killing herself or runaway like Aki.

regarding last question, she it's living on ground floor, so suicide it's quite unlikely

@Markoff said:

regarding last question, she it's living on ground floor, so suicide it's quite unlikely

Oh hehe didn't notice, but still the same...runaway or hopefully she can reconnect with the brother (Shota?) in the future. She reminds me of the kids from another film where the mom abandoned them and one died.

they show it in beginning when they see her crying in balcony while walking in street, that's why they could take her so easily

well he ain't really brother and he is in foster home anyway

A couple of additional points:

1. I read elsewhere that Aki was probably a discarded sister due to her stepmother not wanting her. This is speculative as we only have Grandma's remark about Aki having 'a different mother's to the lady that ends up in jail (itself a lie because those two weren't related). Still, I think this is a very viable conclusion to draw.

2. This was definitely a weakspot in the story given the media report about Juri's real parents deceiving the police.

3. I think the suggestion is perhaps that Juri is looking for the balcony to try and see her old (fake) family that genuinely loved her rather than her hateful and abusive biological parents. In much the same way that a prisoner might look longingly out of their cell window. But then Juri seemed quite content at that point, although was possibly locked out the house again. Slightly annoying ambiguity, but then the whole film is entirely about there being no easy answers.

I've another question. I assume when Shota mouths something in the bus it is 'goodbye dad' or something similar?

@Fergoose said:

I've another question. I assume when Shota mouths something in the bus it is 'goodbye dad' or something similar?

Just 'Dad' according to the subtitles. Poignant stuff.

@Jacinto Cupboard said:

@Fergoose said:

I've another question. I assume when Shota mouths something in the bus it is 'goodbye dad' or something similar?

Just 'Dad' according to the subtitles. Poignant stuff.

Thanks. A tough call by the folk doing my subtitles to not include anything there. I suppose it is fairly obvious what he is thinking / saying there.