Nobody Knows

Name: Nobody Knows
Genre: Drama
Released: February 4, 2005
Duration: 141 min
Rating: 88
Cast: Ayu Kitaura, Hiei Kimura, Momoko Shimizu, Yûya Yagira

2005

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 79 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 79 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: February 4, 2005 | PG-13

Starring: Ayu Kitaura, Hiei Kimura, Momoko Shimizu, Yûya Yagira

Summary: Set in Tokyo, this is an exceptional story of a makeshift family of children left to survive in an urban jungle. (IFC Films)

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 141 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Yagira's performance is so extraordinary, it won him the best actor prize at the 2004 Cannes film festival. Read full review

100

Desson Thomson

[The children's] remarkable lack of self-consciousness ... and Kore-eda's quasi-documentary style give this movie a stunning credibility. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Moves at a stately pace; it's a long film, to boot. But there's real drama and pathos in the story, in the blend of matter-of-factness and potential catastrophe, in the depiction of innocence imperiled. Read full review

Michael Sragow

Kore-eda expresses the terror of the kids' predicament with a touch that's equally tender and dispassionate. Read full review

Ty Burr

Spare and elegant and harrowing, it's an ode to childhood trust being stretched until it snaps. Read full review

Anthony Lane

I certainly came out of Nobody Knows feeling numb; only later, reflecting on the fact that the movie was inspired by a true story, did it occur to me that the numbness could have been deliberate, and that what suffused this picture was a mist of anger. Read full review

Kevin Thomas

Beguiling but long-winded. Read full review

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User Reviews

JakeB.

Nov 7, 2008

Amazing film, I'm pressed for a better way to describe it, but I'm at a loss for words. Absolutely amazing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

WinifredA

Oct 3, 2006

I happened to catch this film on cable several nights ago. In a word, it's

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RachelW.

Oct 22, 2005

One of the most powerful and emotional movies I have ever been blessed enough to watch. Yuya Yagira's performance as Akira is perfect, hence why he won Best Actor. The young Akira's eyes change throughout the movie, from the innocence at the beginning to the hard, mournful look at One of the most powerful and emotional movies I have ever been blessed enough to watch. Yuya Yagira's performance as Akira is perfect, hence why he won Best Actor. The young Akira's eyes change throughout the movie, from the innocence at the beginning to the hard, mournful look at the end. We see the mother's (who is played by You, a Japanese Pop Star) true personality when she questions Akira why she cannot be happy. This is the final tie cut between the two, and you can see it. I honestly think the flow of this movie makes you forget that it is over 2 hours long. In the middle of the movie, we can see that Akira's frustration gets the best of him when he pushes Shigeru away for the first time. In all honesty, this movie shows the pain and hardships of life through the eyes of children. That is what makes this movie so great. It makes us re-think ourselves and our beliefs.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RichY.

Mar 15, 2007

The writer/director used his creative license to embellish the actual event and made it even more tragic and heartwrenching. But the fact remains that this is a stunning piece of work that needs to be witnessed. As other reviewers noted, I was completely immersed in the film I that the The writer/director used his creative license to embellish the actual event and made it even more tragic and heartwrenching. But the fact remains that this is a stunning piece of work that needs to be witnessed. As other reviewers noted, I was completely immersed in the film I that the hours went unnoticed as well as the "acting" by these children. It was a very emotionally exhausting cinematic experience but it was also one of the most beautifully told stories I'd ever seen in my life.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

lubacortez

Feb 20, 2013

Film Director, Hirokazu Kore-eda's take on a real life event of child abandonment in Japan. In Nobody Knows, Four children are left to fend for themselves when their mother takes off. The eldest son, Akira, is left in charge of his younger sisters and brother. He is forced to "grow up" andFilm Director, Hirokazu Kore-eda's take on a real life event of child abandonment in Japan. In Nobody Knows, Four children are left to fend for themselves when their mother takes off. The eldest son, Akira, is left in charge of his younger sisters and brother. He is forced to "grow up" and take charge but can only do so much. Hirokazu Kore-eda's cinematic progression and pacing is slow but riveting. It's a quiet film, yet spilling over with emotion. It's a comment on society and family. It reflects the status and shows us a cinematic situation of child abandonment it's not just a "pointless" and "boring" film. The kids act like kids. It's moving and eye-opening. As I say about all movies: Don't go in with expectations. Be surprised, entertained, and enlightened!… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

hamidgoodarzi

Apr 10, 2023

An admirable film with very beautiful plans and a perceptive director who has been able to create realism with a film. The film is very effective with few dialogues but with strong images and little and wise music.
The film is in praise of childhood and the story of four children who becomeAn admirable film with very beautiful plans and a perceptive director who has been able to create realism with a film. The film is very effective with few dialogues but with strong images and little and wise music.
The film is in praise of childhood and the story of four children who become victims in an irresponsible and passive world. Although the story of the film is sad, the strength of the film is that it is full of effort, sacrifice and hope. At the end of the film, the image shows the four children happily going home after shopping, and the image is fixed. Although the director wants to make us think of children and childhood, I personally like the movement of children in the depth of the picture towards the future. The movie should be seen and enjoyed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DonaldW.

Jun 23, 2006

One word can describe this movie: boring. It could also apply to the other Koreeda movies I have seen. If another word is desired, try "pointless." If Koreeda is trying to tell us that young children should not be abandoned by their parents that isa point which certainly should not take two One word can describe this movie: boring. It could also apply to the other Koreeda movies I have seen. If another word is desired, try "pointless." If Koreeda is trying to tell us that young children should not be abandoned by their parents that isa point which certainly should not take two hours and twenty minutes to make as nothing could be more obvious.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

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