Sam Davitt (anunholyvoid)

Another heart wrenching tale based on a true story about a reckless mother who abandons her four young children in order to go to "work", far away from the family home. The children seem to adore their mother, but her antics soon land them in trouble as they're forced to fend for themselves against all odds. The opening scenes which consist of the mother keeping her children in suitcases as to avoid her landlord sum up her behaviour perfectly. The story moves slowly and in sublime fashion as we closely follow Akira, an 11 year old boy forced to take care of his siblings, all of which have different fathers. This is a truly beautiful and moving movie with a strong young cast. Essential Japanese film.

"Based on 1000 true stories". Catalina Sandino Moreno shines in this realistically dark portrayal of a young woman's struggle to support her big family in an economically struggling Colombia.Moreno plays a woman by the name of Maria Alvarez who takes a job she normally wouldn't consider having if it were not for the fact that she was recently left unemployed and given the responsibility of looking after the family. Downbeat.