Review of Shoplifters (2018) by Keithdow — 12 Dec 2018

'Shoplifters' notably won the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, the first Japanese film to do so since 1997's 'The Eel.' It has since gone on to win 11 other awards and was recently nominated by the Golden Globes for Best Foreign Language Motion Picture.

The merit for all these accolades isn't immediately apparent to audiences when initially delving into the picture, which features a small but close-knit family unit reliant on shoplifting and other petty crimes to survive.

However, the film becomes more and more engrossing as the ties that bond the characters together are further tested and examined. Additionally, since domestic audiences aren't familiar with the actors, it lends an incredible amount of authenticity to their roles, further amplified by writer/director Hirokazu Koreeda's impeccable camera placement.

In the end, this isn't a film that leaves you either exhilarated or exhausted when exiting the theater. Contemplative, perhaps, is the best way to describe it, lingering well beyond when the other emotions have already faded away.