logo

Nobody Knows

Drama

RatingRatingRatingRatingRating4.6

DirectorHirokazu Koreeda

ProducerHirokazu Koreeda

ScreenwriterHirokazu Koreeda

DistributorIFC Films

Release Date DateFeb 4, 2005, Original

LanguageJapanese

Runtime2h 21m

Introduction

Preteen Akira Fukushima (Yûya Yagira) and his young siblings have been abandoned by their mother, Keiko (You). Keiko, who has moved in with a new lover, has left Akira in charge of his brother, two sisters and a whole apartment, with little money and food to see them through. Akira and the other children, who were never enrolled in school, struggle to survive without basic amenities as they cope with a strange, solitary existence in a Tokyo apartment building.

Critics Reviews

David Parkinson4

500

Apr 1, 2006
"Noboby Knows" offers a haunting portrayal of childhood through the eyes of preteen Akira Fukushima (Yûya Yagira) and his siblings, abandoned by their mother, Keiko (You). Tasked with caring for his brother and two sisters with scant resources, Akira navigates a harsh world in their Tokyo apartment. The film masterfully captures the children's struggle for survival and their fragile innocence amidst adversity. The director provides a poignant and insightful depiction of a kid's-eye view of the adult world, immersing us in their solitary existence with a rare blend of tenderness and realism.

Roger Moore4

466

Jun 17, 2005
Nobody Knows is a haunting and poignant film that lays bare the harsh realities of abandoned childhood. Preteen Akira (Yûya Yagira) is thrust into the role of caretaker for his siblings after their mother, Keiko (You), deserts them for a new lover. With scant resources and no formal education, the children navigate their isolated existence in a Tokyo apartment. The movie's chilling portrayal underscores that the ability to procreate does not equate to parental capability. It's a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of neglected youth and the dire consequences of irresponsible parenting. A deeply moving exploration of survival and innocence lost.
Nobody Knows
92%