More park and more clearing out. Primarily this time a large
box of orienteering memorabilia, mainly maps. Loads of them. Oh how I
reminisce. We ought to do some for old time’s sake or perhaps not, considering
how much I used to complain about it. I do have a look at all the old
orienteering websites to see what’s coming up but sadly it doesn’t seem to have
become any more accessible. Which was partly why we gave it up in the first
place.
We head over to Derby
in the evening, eat at Quad and see a film there.
It is six years later before it comes to light what has
happened, as the boys are blood tested as they are admitted to school. Clearly
this is some quirk of the Japanese education system.
The film goes on to explore the impact on the two sets of
parents as they get to know their ‘new’ son and eventually decide whether to
switch children or not.
The two families are from contrasting backgrounds and have very
different approaches to parenting. One is a wealthy family where the father
Ryota is a high flying business man and the mother Midori is a bit of a
doormat. He is rarely at home with either his wife or his son and it shows. He
believes his son Keita should be independent as well as ‘talented’ and driven
like himself. So he’s clearly baffled by his son's poor piano playing and his lack of
desire to get any better. So it comes as quite a relief to him when Keita turns out
not to be his son after all.
His
blood son Ryusei lives with the Saiki family who are shop keepers. The
father Yudai has a more relaxed approach to life and believes
in giving his children as much of his time as they need. Ryota takes an
instant
dislike to him and even offers him money to take Ryusei off is hands.
It is not surprising that Ryota wants to switch. His wife isn’t so keen and contemplates running away with Keita.
It’s never really clear what Yudai wants but as they do the switch it quickly becomes clear that both boys favour Yudai which eventually brings Ryota round to reconsider his views and his priorities in life.
It’s never really clear what Yudai wants but as they do the switch it quickly becomes clear that both boys favour Yudai which eventually brings Ryota round to reconsider his views and his priorities in life.
This wasn't a film I particularly expected to like but I did. It’s well made
and all the performances are
top notch. Standby for the Hollywood remake.
(Sunday 17th November)
top notch. Standby for the Hollywood remake.
(Sunday 17th November)
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