Chronicle of My Mother (Waga Haha no Ki)

Year: 2011
Country: JAPAN
Run Time: 118 minutes

Based on a poetic autobiographical novel by Yasushi Inoue, CHRONICLE OF MY MOTHER is a surprisingly uplifting film about a writer's relationship with his aging mother. Told from the point of view of a domineering author called Kosaku, who heads a mostly female household, this gentle film features sun-washed hues that recall the changing seasons of the 50s and 60s. Kosaku is bitter with his mother for abandoning him upon her post-war emigration to Taiwan. His resentment colors his impatient treatment of her, but also serves as inspiration for his work: much to his family's dismay, Kosaku's best-selling novels prominently feature all of them. Kosaku's youngest daughter Kotoko, an observant budding photographer whose aspirations Kosaku largely ignores, chronicles her father's emotional journey, even as he struggles to write his own story. As Grandma's dementia worsens, the family overcomes differences and draws together to help her. This loving film is a paean to generational ties and an ode to Yasujiro Ozu's post-war family dramas. (In Japanese with subtitles) –B.B.

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