Kore-eda (known with exquisite masterpiece "Maboroshi no hikari" and marvellous "After life") proved one more time that he's one of the foremost (if not the best) modern directors: his latest film "Nobody knows" in my opinion is the best film of 2000's (I have to accept that it's even better than "Dogville" of my favourite von Trier). Masterpiece!

Based on real story, this film narrates about 4 children which were sudenly left alone by their mother for eight months (!); and the eldest brother becomes a 'father' for the others. I don't want to retell the plot: the film should be watched, not heard about...
Problems of children - and especially problems of their maturing and entering into wild and cruel "adult world" - were discussed many times in cinema (you can remember a lot of examples - from classical "400 blows" to modern Zvyagintsev's "The Return"). And here is another great movie on this subject. This problem is especially pointed in this film because of the fact that relations between mother and her children in Japan are delicate and complicated; they are considered as a single whole for a long time.

"Nobody knows" is filmed with wisdom, honesty and modesty. Kore-eda controls actors' (they're kids!) performance so mastefully! - without extra expressiveness or sentimentality. Sometimes it's impossible to tell author's invention from 'captured reality'. And what marvellous close-ups!
The most amazing for me fact about this film is that this drama is optimistic (!), despite its sorrow...

Wonderful film! 9.5/10

P.S. "Nobody knows" was in official contest program of Cannes-2004, but it hasn't got enough attention from jury (only Best Actor prix): Palme d'or was got by pretentious piece of propaganda ""Farenheit 9/11", and Grand Prix - by flashy secondary "Old boy". It's no wonder: Tarantino was the President of Jury...