Sometimes you don't need violence, or sex, or any forced plot point at all, to produce conflict and drama in a story. Hirokazu Koreeda is proof that the everyday going-ons in the lives of regular people are more than enough fuel to create an enjoyable and eminently watchable film with more than enough happening to keep the viewer interested.

That being said, his work isn't for everyone. The pacing here is languid, even for him, and there is even less drama here than in his previous films. But he is able to create characters so rich, diverse and real, that simply watching them talk to each other or walk along the beach or go shopping, is enough. The four sisters…

[Favorites—2010s]

As clichéd as it may sound, for a film that deals with the lives of four women living under the same roof—three sisters and a half-sister who range from mid-teens to late 20s—Kore’eda Hirokazu’s new Our Little Sister (Umimachi Diary) is surprisingly devoid of the kind of sibling conflicts and rivalries we have come to expect from such setups. Sure, from time to time there's a spat over clothes and such between the sober eldest sister (Ayase Haruka), who happens to be the de facto matriarch of the household, and the more free-spirited middle one (Nagasawa Masami), but nothing that threatens to unbalance the domestic harmony.

With his delicate gaze and gentle touch, Kore'eda seems content focusing on life's…

On a recent vacation flight to London I was gobsmacked that the Air Canada seat back on-flight entertainment system was not only modern, high def 16x9 native, and incredibly responsive, but more so that the huge selection of films was chock-a-block with world cinema. I stepped through a couple of trailers and was astounded at the picture quality and maintaining of the original aspect ratio … yes, they actually maintained a 2.35 aspect ratio for the appropriate films. Big Yay to Air Canada and it’s newish 777 fleet!

On a similar vacation flight to London a few years ago I chose The Lego Movie from the limited selection; I thought about being all symmetrical and stuff and choosing The Lego…

A touching movie. That’s all I can say right now. I’m starting to lose words to describe how amazing Hirozuka Koreeda’s films are. When I first looked up what the movie was about, I was surprised to learn that it was adapted from a manga. But the director not only succeeds at adapting the manga, but puts his own colors into the film. However, it felt different than his usual films. Maybe because there weren’t that many long-shot scenes, for which he is known for. Still, it’s a wonderful story that illustrates the bonding of three sisters with a new family member. I really love the themes of self acceptance and sisterly bond in this movie. With many harsh events…