Review of Like Father, Like Son (2013) by Dave C — 08 Sep 2016
An early scene in Like Father, Like Son introduces the Ninomiya family at their son's entrance exam for elementary school. Mother Midori (Machiko Ono) would be just fine with her son Kieta attending a public school, but father Ryota (Masaharu Fukuyama) won't settle for anything less than the best school for his son. Parents and teachers alike watch the children play together, wonderfully oblivious to the numbers pinned to their chests as their personalities are scored in the distance.
As much as he professes to love his only son, Ryota is keeping score, too, making sure his child measures up to his standards. Daily piano lessons are a must, and young Keita takes baths alone to build up his independence. Ryota's grooming his son to take on the strict habits of his own life that he believes have brought him success as an engineer, and a prestigious elementary school is the logical and proper next step. A call from the hospital where Keita was born derails Ryota's plans for perfection, and new blood tests reveal that Keita is not his real son.
Will Ryota and his wife exchange Keita for an unknown child that shares their blood? The questions looms heavy over the film, but writer/director Hirokazu Koreeda (Nobody Knows) balances this horrific situation with a sustained, light touch and a perfectly balanced performances. The simple piano score and modest camera work take away any imposed dramatics and let us observe the six human beings whose futures must be decided. There's no rule book for this kind of thing, and each character has a different idea of what's right.
Full review at Drama-MAX.
This review of Like Father, Like Son (2013) was written by Dave C on 08 Sep 2016.
Like Father, Like Son has generally received very positive reviews.
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