MOVIEEE REVIEWWW!!!

I just so happened to have recently watched the Japanese film, “Nobody Knows”, and this is my review of it.

Ok, so this movie is about Akira, a 12 year old boy who lives with his Mother, and 3 siblings. Their family is poor, and is constantly moving between apartments. I don’t remember if the story actually lets us know how many apartments they’ve been through, but we definitely know it isn’t their first (it was stated directly in the film). So, we as the audience, and everyone else around, can tell that these people are tired, and just at their wits end when it comes on how they’re going to make ends meet. Continuing on, and as they get situated into this new apartment, the mom meets a new man/boyfriend off-screen, and starts taking a real liking to him. Here’s the kicker though, the man has his priorities and life together, so the mother ends up leaving Akira and his 3 siblings to go live a better life I suppose with this new man, leaving Akira and his 3 siblings essentially stranded in this new apartment alone, and forcing them to fend for themselves as trash and old ramen cups flood the apartment, in addition to the water bill also being shut off due to rent not being paid. Making Akira essentially the head of house, but at the cost of a seemingly unbearable responsibility. And that’s Nobody Knows.

NOW, let’s get into the review. First off, it’s safe to say that this movie left me, idk, conflicted? Like ok, i’m a really big “thematic” type of guy when it comes to movies, so the overall message 9/10 is my general focus when it comes to judging or critiquing films in any fashion. However, this movie, while it did not completely fill the slot, it kinda gave me a feeling similar to Norwegian Wood (Another Japanese Film). Just extremely atmospheric, and artistically toned with an undertone of melancholy. Just for record, this film isn’t some incredibly high budget masterpiece with 10’s or even 100’s of millions of dollars poured into it. You can tell just by watching it that it obviously has its flaws and imperfections; BUT, do not let that stop you from actually getting into this movie. Imo, it’s a great movie where you are able to walk away from it and be like, “Hm, that was cool I guess” at the least, or one of those movies where you just let out a deep sigh and now you’re in a stoop after thinking about both the underlying and overarching message of the movie for to long; if you go into it with a tame mindset that is. The movie makes it to where it’s almost incapable for you NOT to put yourself in Akira’s shoes, and I think that’s GREAT honestly!! A lot of films lack that connection with the viewer, and simply rely on an expensive budget to tell a lackluster story with no takeaway. So, if you are gonna watch it, just go into it with that in mind. ^^

All in all, I give this movie about an !!8/10!! as far as personal enjoyment goes. There were some moments were it was either a 7/10 or a 6.5/10, but I didn’t let that stop me or bring me down, because that’s when the movie would make me go, “damn” and bring me right back to a 8/10. So, there you have it, there’s my review of Nobody Knows (2004), let me know what you think, and yeah. I plan on releasing reviews of movies like All About Lily Chou-Chou, Go (2001), Mid90s, Mysterious Skin, Blue Spring, and Fallen Angels. But let me know what ya’ll think about this and name some of your favorite indie films, maybe i’ll check em out. Thank you, and peace!