Our Little Sister

Our Little Sister is a heartwarming film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The story follows three sisters who take in their younger half-sister, Suzu, after the death of their father. Together, they discover the true meaning of family and belonging in their picturesque home in Kamakura.

This moving film captivates audiences with its breathtaking cinematography. Through stunning imagery, Kore-eda brings the Japanese landscape to life in a way that recalls the enchanting worlds of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli films. Accompanied by Yoko Kanno’s refreshing score for piano and strings, Our Little Sister is the perfect film for an open-air cinema evening at Tuin van Heden.

Hirokazu Kore-eda is one of Japan’s most celebrated and beloved filmmakers. Renowned for his nuanced portrayal of complex family relationships, he has been moving audiences for more than three decades with films such as Still Walking (2008), Like Father, Like Son (2013), and Broker (2022). In 1995, his feature debut Maborosi won the Golden Osella for Best Cinematography at the 52nd Venice International Film Festival. In 2018, Shoplifters was awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Previous Kore-eda films screened at the JAPAN-SQUARE Film Festival include After Life (1998), After the Storm (2016), and Monster (2023).

The role of Suzu in Our Little Sister is played by actress Suzu Hirose. She also recently portrayed the young Etsuko in Kei Ishikawa’s A Pale View of the Hills, the closing film of the 2026 edition of the JAPAN-SQUARE Film Festival.

The film starts at 21:15, but the bar will be open from 20:00. Feel free to come a bit earlier for a drink and some extra time to relax and socialize before the film.