Hana (2006)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Hana (2006) -- H. Kore-eda

As a fan of Koreeda's other films (particularly After Life), I was keen to see this at the Melbourne Int'l Film Festival and it did not disappoint (even though I was wary of the director's first foray into the jidai-geki). If one reads the film as Kore-eda's reaction to the events of Sept 11 2001 (or the subsequent US response), as has been reported as one of the intents, then it is an interesting take on the value of suppressing one's (righteous) anger in favor of responses that build community and diffuse the cycle of tit-for-tat animosity. That said, the film is full of broad humor and tender moments, Japanese-style. Worth seeing for the way it creates a small band of often hapless characters, though not without its confusing or undigested plot points (i.e, the actual revengers).  (2010 review)