Nobody Knows

Out of the many films that I had watched for this module, the mothers portrayed in the movies are selfless and willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their children, but Nobody Knows by Hirokazu Koreeda (2004) certainly is an exception. A movie based on an actual event, Nobody Knows is about four children abandoned by their mother and left to survive on their own, and the main lead of the movie Yūya Yagira won the award for Best Actor at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival for his performance in the movie.



The movie is depressing and to a certain extent, it made me really angry while watching it, as I could not help but wonder, how is it possible to have such a selfish mother? Even though in the start the family was close-knitted, a subtle sense of distance between the mother and children was there. It felt like the mother was a kid and Akira was the parent of the household instead (to which he eventually was). And as the story slowly progress, the cosy household environment slowly crumbles into ruins, filled with flint and junk. The children’s clothes are tattered and dirty. Even Akira’s unkempt hair gets longer and longer due to the inability to afford a haircut, as he progress in puberty (but his mental age has undoubtedly matured from the moment he realised he had to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of his siblings).

The director created an open ending for the movie, and I very much wished that there was a clear ending instead, but I suppose this choice of the director reflects reality of many societies: no matter how urbanised one society can be, there are bound to be people struggling in the dark corners and not able to receive any help, unless there is social intervention and assistance rendered out.

It is harrowing to think that this movie is based on an actual event, and apparently the actual event is much more grim and grisly. The irresponsibility of the mother only shows one point – the ability to give birth to children does not make one a mother, it is only when the mother is able to take care of her children with her best ability, is what that makes her a mother.


References:
Nobody Knows – Wikipedia
Sugamo child abandonment case - Wikipedia
"A winsome documentary-like detailed study about four abandoned youngsters in Tokyo." - Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz