Good story, Not enough for a whole film

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Viewed on DVD. Cinematography = barely five (5) stars; translations/subtitles = barely three (3) stars. Director Hirokazu Koreeda (who is also the film's writer and producer) delivers a tale about the next generation of lost children hiding in plain sight in the big city. There are actually five children: four preteens and a careless party-girl mother. The latter refuses (or is unable) to grow up, periodically abandons her brood, and appears bent on reversing Japan's declining birth rate all by herself (each kid has a different father). Koreeda seems to have closely studied the behavior of children, and this film really shows it! The opening scenes are especially well done. Acting is first rate all round with the Director constantly demonstrating his mastery of the difficult art of directing children. Use of sound to capture scenes not shown on camera is especially interesting. The movie could use some trimming, as it has a tendency to decelerate when adding to character traits. To say that IFC Films / MGM Home Entertainment lacks quality control for translations/subtitles would be a vast understatement! DVD formatting prevents subtitles from being turned on until the movie has started! (By hitting the Title Menu button on your remote.) This means, of course, that you have to restart the film to see the expository information that opens the film. Dialog subtitles can be somewhat removed from actual line readings; some dialog is not subtitled; most signs are not subtitled; handwriting is not subtitled; and opening/closing credits are not translated including the full title of the film! Cinematography (semi-wide screen, color) is on the blurry side (a common problem with blow ups to 35 mm). Exterior scenes can be under lit especially at night. Set decoration, sound field, and score are OK. Highly recommended. WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.

'Nobody Knows' is a deeply moving film. It sheds light on a disturbing reality that we may not be aware of or may not even want to think about but definitely exists in the world we live in. The plot says it all: A group of children try to stick together and live a 'normal' life after their so-called mother leaves them one day, never to return. I was amazed by how well those small kids played their respective roles in such a serious film. If you like thought-provoking films, you should definitely watch this one. In this day and age when teenagers throw tantrums at their parents over petty issues, this film will make you feel lucky that you even have a parent or a guardian who looks after you and cares about you.The film is also aptly titled as despite the inconceivable situations that these kids have been through, you never know what the future holds for them but you definitely hope things somehow get better.

I watched this movie in 2005 on the flight to Osaka. I couldn't believe the story. I couldn't believe that this could ever happen in Japan where children's lives are controlled every minute by teachers. When I got access to Google and checked out the story I couldn't believe this movie story was based on a real life situation. The young lead actor is beautiful, his skills in this story belie what he could do (hope he gets more movie opportunities). The story needs this kind of lead role. Sadly I found the other kids' acting to be basic -- but the story really relies on the lead actor. He needs an Oscar or some award for his work in this movie. Watch this movie. But be sure you are not distracted, watch it from beginning to end. You will be crying at the end. But not necessarily crying from sadness but from pleasure that the kids finally have their act together. But also sadness because they still have a long way to go.

Nobody Knows was a very touching film. I found the plot of this film is quite similar to the Japanese Animation film, The Grave Of Fireflies (1988), which I happened to watch several moths after I had watched Nobody Knows. Definitely the motives of these two films are different. While the director of Nobody Knows was inspired by the true story of abandoned children in Tokyo in 1988, The Grave Of Fireflies is based on the autobiographical novel of an author who experienced the World War II as a young boy in Japan. Nevertheless, the way these two films move audiences' hearts is almost the same in the sense that the leads in both films are all innocent children who are exposed to a tough situation without any proper protection. If you have already watched either one of these two films, I'd like to recommend the other. Because your heart would be moved the same as when you watched the other. Despite the similarity between these two films, none would diminish the level of touching impression of the other. It is just the same manner that the audience who already knows much about King Lear would still receive the fresh, strong and touching impression from the Kurosawa's Ran. Of course, in case of Nobody knows and The Grave Of Fireflies, none is the adaptation of the other. (*)