There's so much going on in this film and I've been basically dissecting it on my head for the past hour.
I had no idea what this film was about but the only two ideas I had were about families and it involves shoplifting. Glad to say they're both involved! However, as I thought shoplifting was kind of the main theme but, not as how I would've expected it.
Family and shoplifting are the main themes of this movie there's no lying there. But the way that both works really well together in this movie is what makes me so happy that we can tell stories in the coolest and oddest combos.
Stealing wasn't even the main topic of this film. I was shocked. It was more about the people that was basically shoplifted, from the grandma, to Osamu and Nobuyo.
The line of Osamu saying something like "we shoplift things that don't belong to people" is what makes me think that these people, who aren't exactly family by blood, were put together by the grandma with some help from both Osamu and Nobuyo, were all “shoplifted,” because they all have something in common. They were all alone, abandoned, and needed money. Later, love and compassion for each other.
Shoplifting is looked upon as bad, obviously. The grandma and the couple shoplifting people into their family is also looked down upon. So, why do they do this?
Firstly, Hirokazu Kore-eda was able to foreshadow over how oppressive these institutions can be towards families like them. They shoplift because they're all in the lower-working class having to live off pension money while also work as laborers that doesn't pay enough. They did what they have to do to survive in such oppressive times, and still, a reality today.
Secondly, they shoplift these people with good reason as well. Each of them were either abandoned, abused, and neglected. None of them would've survived in this world without these people picking them up. One good example that sheds light on how oppressive institutions are is when the policewoman was interrogating Nobuyo about why she "kidnapped" Juri.
The policewoman kept saying that Juri needs to go back to her abusive family because they're her birth parents. The lady said “Children need their mothers,” and she specifically meant their birth mothers. Nobuyo disagreed wholeheartedly and said, "Giving birth automatically makes you a mother?" It amazes me how these characters were able to question traditional motherhood and parenthood in this film. The way they are progressed enough to know what’s right and were still able to home so many people under one roof despite the fact that they have their own issues to take care of, is incredible to me. "Blood thicker than water," is utter bullshit.
One thing I want to add is how it gets sadder as the film goes. It was heartbreaking to see the family trying to run away when Shota broke his leg, but that's just how it goes. Why do people like them have to face such harsh realities? It's because of institutions like the police when handling socioeconomic issues. It's systemic classism.
Before the police should ever question why people like them have to do what they have to do, they all need to realize their own flaws in their own systems, and the people they work for.
Shoplifters is one of the best I've seen lately, please give it a watch if you haven't. A great exploration of family.
This review is also posted in my Letterboxd! Click here to see the review.
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