Nobody Knows (Dare mo shiranai) (2004)

93% of critics liked it
(91 reviews)
91% of users liked it
(9,091 ratings)

Hirokazu Kore-eda, who wrote and directed the international success After Life, returns with this story about a family dealing with an unusual dilemma in an unusual manner. Keiko (You) is a single mother who moves with her 12-year-old son, Akira (Yuya Yagira), into a small flat in a large city;… More Hirokazu Kore-eda, who wrote and directed the international success After Life, returns with this story about a family dealing with an unusual dilemma in an unusual manner. Keiko (You) is a single mother who moves with her 12-year-old son, Akira (Yuya Yagira), into a small flat in a large city; however, what the building management doesn't know is that Keiko also has three other children, all fathered by different men: ten-year-old Kyoko (Ayu Kitaura), seven-year-old Shigeru (Hiei Kimura), and four-year-old Yuki (Momoko Shimizu). One day, Akira finds a note from his mother, saying that she'll be away for a while and that he's in charge while she's gone; the message is accompanied by an envelope full of money. Akira takes this news in stride, since it isn't the first time this has happened; he sees to it that the bills are paid, Kyoko takes care of the housework, and the youngest kids look after one another. But days stretch into weeks and it becomes clear that Kieko may not be coming back for a while. At first, the children try to keep up appearances as if their mother were still around, but as time goes on and money gets low, things become increasingly chaotic, and Keiko starts running out of ways to dodge the landlord and keep their problem a secret. Daremo Shiranai was inspired by actual events known in Japan as The Affair of the Four Abandoned Children of Nishi-Sugamo, though Kore-eda's version differs considerably from what occurred in real life. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Hirokazu Koreeda
Written By: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Oct 21, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Sep 13, 2005
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Nobody Knows will chill you, further proof that the ability to procreate does not automatically qualify you to be a parent.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
At its heart, Nobody Knows is a sweet salute to the tenacity and courage of children who are blithely mistreated by adults who should know better and probably do.
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
This gem from Hirokazu Kore-eda unfolds with the graceful simplicity of a real-life episode turned into a minimalist fable.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
A genuinely important film.
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
Kore-eda has an astonishing talent for making us feel the same emotional aches as the kids.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
The first great picture to be released this year.
Bruce Feld, Film Journal International
Those who can tolerate slower rhythms will appreciate Kore-eda's patient approach. And all will admire his handling of the children.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
It's rather slow and a bit overlong (139 minutes), it may not be for everyone, but for viewers with the patience, the rewards are many.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
Rarely has a kid's-eye view of the adult world been captured with such innocence and insight.
Jeffrey Chen, Window to the Movies
Makes you weep for humanity's lack of humanity, but in doing so it reveals your own humanity in the concerns that honestly surface from within you as you watch.
Duane Dudek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
While this could be the stuff of tabloid fodder at the one extreme or family fare uplift at the other, it is actually an observational meditation on childhood lost with universal applications.
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
Despite the downbeat premise, the director focuses on his characters' momentary pleasures.
Mark Palermo, Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Photographed in static shots that never cast judgement, the child actors have a naturalism that makes familiarity emotionally charged.
Mark Pfeiffer, Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema
Hirokazu dwells on the resiliency of children, a theme that also resonated in Small Change and which gives the film a lightness not inherent in the subject matter.
Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly
Has a sweetly mournful feel, and it's well-performed throughout; still, it's a long time to spend in limbo.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

Sad.
Luke B

Absolutely essential viewing. Slow, subtle and sublime. Wonderfully shot and written the story unravels at a calm pace building up to a devastating climax. Incredible performances from the youths make this a painfully naturalistic and at the same time heartwarming film about family,… More
Absolutely essential viewing. Slow, subtle and sublime. Wonderfully shot and written the story unravels at a calm pace building up to a devastating climax. Incredible performances from the youths make this a painfully naturalistic and at the same time heartwarming film about family, friendship and responsibility.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic][color=red]Warning: do not go see "Nobody Knows" if you have Attention Deficit Disorder or have a short attention span. The movie starts slow and eventually moves to a deliberate speed. You need to be patient with this film.[/color][/font]… More
[font=Century Gothic][color=red]Warning: do not go see "Nobody Knows" if you have Attention Deficit Disorder or have a short attention span. The movie starts slow and eventually moves to a deliberate speed. You need to be patient with this film.[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#808000][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=darkorange]"Nobody Knows" starts out with a mother and 12 year old son, Akira, moving into a new apartment. Since the landlord says her neighbors might have problems with larger families, her two younger children arrive via suitcases, and a fourth is snuck in the dark of night from the train station.(None of the other children are enrolled in school. And all of the children have different fathers.) The mother tends to arrive home late after work and then after leaving a quick note, leaves the children to their devices for an extended period of time. Then, the money begins to run low.(Perhaps it is telling that the mother is the only parent we see in the entire film.) [/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=darkorange][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=darkorange]Basically, "Nobody Knows" is a heartbreaking movie with an open ending that is both happy and sad. It is not flashy in any way, seeking to emphasize the mundane day-to-day activities. On the minus side, it does tend to overdo the children-as-baggage metaphor.[/color][/font]
Dannielle A

This was pretty much the most depressing movie I've ever seen in my life. It was very artistically photographed.
Daisy M

"Nobody Knows" is painful to watch. It's a story you won't shake off, it's from the most defenseless of humans -- children, trapped in growing poverty and abandonment. It has not any action or exciting moments, but I was totally perplex during the two hours… More
"Nobody Knows" is painful to watch. It's a story you won't shake off, it's from the most defenseless of humans -- children, trapped in growing poverty and abandonment. It has not any action or exciting moments, but I was totally perplex during the two hours of the movie...cause of the superb performances of the adorable children, who were all really natural and likable. You just feel for them and wonder how their mother could have done such a thing with them. You see the contrast between the courage, maturity and innocence of children, and the selfishness of adults. The real documentary style of filming allows viewers to see things from the eye of the children... My vote? 5 stars and some tears.
Richard F

A blistering story that reminds us that child neglect is a tragic plague that exists beyond the boundaries of our culture. Despite the film being a bit lengthy and unfocused, these characters are so genuine, authentic, and universal that you often forget you are watching a scripted… More
A blistering story that reminds us that child neglect is a tragic plague that exists beyond the boundaries of our culture. Despite the film being a bit lengthy and unfocused, these characters are so genuine, authentic, and universal that you often forget you are watching a scripted foreign film.