Shoplifters

At first glance, it may seem like a cute film about poor people, but it delivers an unexpected statement about the institution of family. A small family survives mostly on the grandmother's pension and occasionally resorts to shoplifting. One day, on their way home from another theft, the head of the family takes in a neglected little girl from a first-floor balcony. Despite their modest financial situation, the tight-knit family lives happily. When they see a news report about a missing girl on television, they decide not to return the child to her lawful mother.

«Shoplifters» unexpectedly won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, which led to a rebellion among many critics. Against the backdrop of attention-grabbing and provocative films that serve as generation manifestos or present new cinematic languages, this small, quiet, and modest work by the Japanese filmmaker appeared disarmingly unremarkable.

The film sparked controversy in Japan as well. Kore-eda's previous family-themed films fit into the genre of social realism, but in this new family portrait, he entrusts the role to anarchists. It is no coincidence that the Prime Minister of Japan was angered by Kore-eda's Cannes victory. The government denied him the customary congratulations reserved for Japanese athletes or Nobel laureate Ishiguro (despite his long residence in Britain). The authorities considered this film a humiliation rather than a celebration of the country.

 Winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.