This drama is set in the near future, when a couple is offered the opportunity to have a humanoid version of their dead son. Even though it’s a sci-fi premise, the film is strictly an emotional examination of grief and loss. It’s more poetic than narrative with restrained performances and wistful direction by Hirokazu Koreeda. His output varies in subject, from the sensitive “Shoplifters” (my review) to the engaging “Broker” (my review). Thru them all, he maintains a reserved pace without any directorial flair or emotional outbursts. In this case, the film moves very slowly and there are also several instances where the story jumps in time or logic. Although this film starts out promisingly, this quiet meditation on heartache and longing isn’t as effective as some of his previous work. (Japanese with subtitles) 2.0 out of 5.0 stars
