Frequent readers of my blog will know that I’m a big fan of Japanese film director Hirokazu Koreeda (是枝裕和), ever since I was introduced to his film Wonderful Life ( After Life ) way back in 1998 when I was still a budding animation/film student. Koreeda’s cinematic genius lies in his astute and sharp observation of Japanese societal life, which is why I was so excited for his latest Netflix series Asura (阿修羅のごとく). The narrative follows the life and relationships of 4 sisters when they discover that their father have been having an affair. Check out the trailer below –

The story takes place during the late 1970s/early 1980s, and Koreeda made the splendid creative choice of shooting the film on good old 35mm film, which really brings out that nostalgic Kodak era look of the Showa period. The costume, art direction and set design are all excellent, and topped by really fantastic performance and chemistry between the lead actresses.

This video below is an interview with the lead actresses ( in Japanese language only ).

This is a really excellent series that excels in all areas, and I very highly recommend it. My only regret is that it will not likely see a physical media release because of it’s Netflix backing.


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