Our Little Sister

2015 ‘海街diary’ Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda

A story that revolves around three sisters who live in their grandmother's home and the arrival of their 13-year-old half sister.

Haruka Ayase Masami Nagasawa Kaho Suzu Hirose Ryō Kase Ryohei Suzuki Ikeda Takafumi Kentaro Sakaguchi Oshiro Maeda Midoriko Kimura Yuko Nakamura Kazuaki Shimizu Kaoru Hirata Masumi Nomura Seki Fight Mikami Saya Fukiko Hara Takamitsu Nonaka Saito Kanako Yuki Kimura Yasumi Yoko Ichirō Ogura Kirin Kiki Shinichi Tsutsumi Jun Fubuki Lily Franky Shinobu Ōtake

Alternative Titles

Umimachi Diary, Kamakura Diary, Nasza młodsza siostra, Küçük Kiz Kardesim, Systrarna, Дневник Умимати, Naša mala sestra, Søstre, Nuestra pequeña hermana, Akhotenou ha'ktana, Η μικρή μας αδελφή, Notre petite soeur, Siskokset, Nuestra hermana pequeña, Unsere kleine Schwester, Nossa Irmã Mais Nova, 바닷마을 다이어리, Sea Town Diary

comedy drama

128 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Alex ★★★★½ 15

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…
Review by davidehrlich ★★★½

Kore-eda's gentlest (and prettiest) film is a long & lovely tale of family, transience, and whitefish spread on toast.
Review by Hungkat ★★★★ 7

Take a dip in Kore-eda’s touch of tenderness, covered in pale pink petals and breathe in the sisterly love. I’m not crying because I’m sad, it’s because of the puff of air that blew into my eyes. The breezes of gentleness, smooth like butter and sweet like honey, carry me home and let me curl up into a soft ball. They remind me how generous life can be, even when the road gets rough. Every meal shared is a joy, every glance is a touch; how every-day contains a bittersweet revelation as tears are evenly meshed with laughter. The intricate fabric texture of the familial world is a pleasure to hold onto. Our Little Sister’s kindness is a glimmer bright in the distance, as the cherry blossom trees are blooming. You just have to close your eyes and enter the tunnel of embrace.
Review by Cinematic Underdogs ★★★★★ 2

This film feels like live-action Studio Ghibli—stripped of the more fantastical elements, but just as animated with heart.
Exquisitely small, refreshingly wistful, earnestly affectionate, and ever so wholesome.
Review by matt lynch ★★★★

These quiet Kore-eda domestic dramas are irresistible to me.
Review by Arsaib Gilbert ★★★★ 2

[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…
Review by MK ★★★★ 1

This is an embodiment of what a Hirokazu Koreeda san movie feels like, 10 min into the movie and you are already in love with the characters and hope nothing bad happens to them throughout the movie. Its one of those moments wre you wish to have a company like them and just be there with them forever... Highly recommended!
Review by iana ★★★½ 5

ohhhh how wonderful
Review by ˗ˏˋ Liam ˊˎ˗ ★★★★★

this is very telling of what i like about cinema
Review by Jonathan White ★★★★ 9

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…
Review by Cormac 👑 ★★★★½ 6

Do you ever go into a movie from a filmmaker you love actively bracing for crushing disappointment? Doubts nagging at you, feeding at you, enjoying a full course meal in the back of your brain-box. Where you just know, realistically, it has to happen at some point. I mean, it’s got to, right?! But then the film starts. And the first frame plays, and the first scene passes, and the first five minutes are over, and you know you never should have been so senseless. No? Just me? Well, that’s been my experience with the work of Hirokazu Kore-eda. There’s no-one who can make me feel such shame for fearing routineness or complacency quite like Hirokazu Koreeda. I guess I’ll…
Review by Darren Carver-Balsiger ★★★★ 3

Our Little Sister has a striking naturalism and quiet. It is a film of gentle humour and very likeable women. The film centres on women looking out for each other in a world of strained family relationships. Through the central women's dating lives and attempts to raise their little sister, they try not to repeat the mistakes of the family who have wronged them. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda shows himself as a modern day Ozu, making this a film of pillow shots and key moments kept offscreen. Similar to Ozu, it shows that life is complicated even when presented simply. Our Little Sister is a sweet and delightful film, a bundle of joy. It may tackle some serious themes, but this is arthouse cinema at its lightest and most lovable.
2016 Ranked

Recent reviews

Review by krysha ★★★★½

i love it so much aaaaaaaaaa
Four sisters>>>> tres marias
Review by abuu ★★★★★

I have not been emotionally stirred like that in a while. It is perfection and I would not change a single thing about it. There’s so much one can takeaway from this depending on your experiences in life and I’d like to think I saw a reflection of so many families within this. It is weirdly almost Studio Ghibli-esque in its offing, it’s gentle, kind and understanding with a sense of hopefulness that makes you want to be a better person.

First Kore-eda (which is a crime on its own) and now to watch every single thing in his filmography!!
Review by Sasanka Sathyajith ★★★★★

- Directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda
- Welcome to the Japanese Cinema
- Simple But Brilliant
- Brilliant Performance from The Cast
- Great Theme about Poverty and Its Effects
- Must Watch Movie for Those who love to watch Slow Paced Movies
Review by DanChong ★★★★½

Feels like a homemade soup. The taste is mild, yet so fulfilling to the soul.
One (among many) of the great things about this movie is it never injects conflicts and dramas just for the sake of it, despite plenty of opportunities to do so. Its beauty lies in its restrain.
Review by Ewan Gleadow ★★★★½

When a story is not pertinent to where the characters go, it frees up new journeys for a cast who live comfortable lives. Hirokazu Kore-eda is a master of this. He brings with him the opportunity to experience life and its innocence with many of his features. Our Little Sister has no conceivable point or story, it is just the ructions of a family we will never see or hear from outside of these well-considered two hours. They are not doing anything of particular interest, nor are they experiencing a journey unique to them. A broad stroke of life conducted with versatility and passion that open its amicable, relaxed stories up to an audience.
That is often the reason Kore-eda films…
Review by Sahilspst ★★★★½

It feels like torture, leaving for the real world after having been, for two hours, part of this family : Suzu, Chika, Yoshino, Sachi and ofc the wonderful seaside city of Kamakura.
Review by ashlesha ★★★★

the only thing i didn’t like about it was that it challenged my refusal to believe people can be this nice
Review by Samarth Solanki ★★★★

Our Little Sister (2015) | Hirokazu Kore-eda
I guess it simply isn't possible to not love a Hirokazu Kore-eda film. His characters and the way he presents them creates such a beautiful bond that by the end you wouldn't want to part your ways. A scene towards the opening of Our Little Sister sums up this feeling, when Suzu runs after the departing train waving goodbye to her three sisters whom she has just met, knowing very well that this is not really a goodbye.
Progression of beautiful imagery through the changing seasons presents an intimate look into the lives of three sisters who live in the house of their grandmother who looked after them when their father left the…
Review by RicardoPacheco ★★★½

No es necesario tener una relación sanguínea con alguien para poder considerarlo familia.
Review by deniyi ★★★★★

tiny scream Very Heartwarming!!! and it really is pleasing my eyes and omg i feel so content while and after watching this movie... one important point, now i feel so grateful that i have a sister... veryyyyyy heartwarming might rewatch this anytime soon!
Review by emotionalbitch ★★★

cute
Review by mers0 ★★★★

Ta bom, Hirokazu kore-eda é a reencarnação de Yasujiro Ozu.
Talvez, possivelmente, esse seja o filme mais belo e fofo que eu ja assisti na vida, é incrível o modo como esse homem consegue escrever tão bem seus personagens. Que homem!
A ênfase dramática pode ser um desafio para quem aposta em dramas familiares tensos e fortes, mas em Our Little Sister é o toque fraternal que nos faz amar este relato de amizade, compaixão e redenção, e sobretudo construção de novos laços. Depois, temos o quarteto de atrizes, tão belas como emocionantes, tão humanas como afáveis para com o espectador.