Being good (2015)

	Also Known As: Kimi wa iiko
	Year of first release: 2015
	Director: Mipo O
	Actors: Kengo Kora, Machiko Ono, Chizuru Ikewaki, Michie Kita, Kazuya Takahashi
	Country: J
	Genre: Drama
	Conditions of visioning: 27.05.2016, Mousonturm Saal, Japanese version with English subtitles, NCF2016
Synopsis: This movie has an ensemble cast which draws normal people who might be living next door, in any normal town. And it draws various problems like child abuse, chain of abuse, negligence, teasing, which might exist in any town, more than a little. The problems could be solved sometimes by "kindness" and "consideration" of people. When it comes to know in a family which is closest and smallest community for us that there is someone who has lost those feelings, what people can do? If it comes to know, just go and talk. Just go and hold their hand. It is possible that people could be saved only by that. Plants die if they don't receive nutrient, people also die without the "kindness" of someone. The "kindness" can definitely save someone, it blossoms flower in that person and someone else could also be saved. There is possibility, since everyone was once a child and someone's neighbor. This movie draws the light arising out of series of such feeling.
Review: The story by episodes about people who will meet in one of these episodes may not be that original, but in this movie it makes really sense as it shows that child maltreatment as sexual, physical, psychological is spread everywhere and that it could be your neigbour. There are many movies about this violence, trying to show it melodramatically (e.g. Room) or to investigate the case or the root cause (e.g. Refugiado) or to highlight the big consequences that this can have.  This topic is extremely touching. And the way it is shot makes it also very touching. Because the Japanese society does not talk much and even less about sensitive topics. The child is something very sacred in Japan, being one of the few countries in the world having the Children's Day on May the 5th. By not talking much, the actors have to express a lot, and they do! The powerlessness of third persons observing a case, the power of a hug, the power of a help. The actors are very authentic. And this on many many scenes with many different actors. It is a concentrate of excellent and subtle Japanese acting.  This acting is also enhanced by the directing. The scenery is chosen appropriately: school room, facade of a house, playpen, backyard of the school, in a sunny or a rainy day. This movie shows a complex vision of one problematic, shows a lot of subtlety.
Rating: 9 /10