I Wish

Synopsis & Film Details

This Japanese family drama is hailed by The Guardian as “a gem of world cinema by a gifted master of the craft.” Written and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, the film tells the story of 12-year-old Koichi, who lives with his mother and retired grandparents in southern Japan. His younger brother, Ryunosuke, lives with their father in the north. The brothers have been separated by the divorce of their parents, and Koichi’s only wish is for the family to be reunited. When he learns that a new bullet train will soon open, linking the two towns, he starts to believe that a miracle will take place the moment these new trains pass each other at top speed. Critic Mark Jenkins of The Washington Post says: “The original Japanese title of ‘I Wish’ translates literally as ‘miracle.’ … It’s about the wonders of everyday life and of childhood imagination.” In Japanese, with English subtitles.