Still Walking is a 2008 Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The movie portrays how death can still be a present force within a family years after the event has occurred. The film follows the Yokoyama family, who come together annually to commemorate the death of their eldest son Junpei who drowned while attempting to save a life at sea. The reunion brings out all sorts of stress, tension, and buried emotions in each member of the family.
Kyohei, the head of the family, is a retired doctor and is unable to connect with his surviving son Ryota, who cut short his university education to become a failed artist and now works as a low-paid video editor. Ryota, on the other hand, deeply regrets his life choices and feels like an outcast among his family. He believes that his parents never accepted him for who he is and wishes he had died instead of his brother, the family's golden-child.
Meanwhile, Chinami, the middle child, and her husband Nobuo bring their two children along, but the family ambiance is somewhat pressured, and small talk becomes complicated and uncomfortable. One significant issue is the fact that Toshiko feels guilty for not realizing her son's unhappiness before his death and struggles with her emotions during the reunion.
The film progresses slowly but steadily, showcasing the everyday routine of the family's shared meals, walks, and arguments. With sharply drawn observations of inter-generational conflict, Still Walking exposes petty squabbles and undercurrents of emotion that fester beneath the surface and force characters to confront their feelings.
The film comes to a cathartic climax when Ryota finally comes face-to-face with his family's unresolved past, and they all confront the elephant in the room, Junpei's death, and their own guilt and regrets. Kore-eda's poignant storytelling and delicate direction make Still Walking a touching and realistic portrait of a family in mourning.