Cinema listings with film information and movie reviews
Harmonium
Writer-director Koji Fukada explores themes of crime and punishment in this acutely observed Japanese drama. Toshio (Kanji Furutachi) offers his spare room to an old friend, Yasada (Tadanobu Asano), who has just been released from prison. There is unspoken tension between the two men and Toshio's wife Akie (Mariko Tsutsui) is deeply uncomfortable about welcoming a convicted criminal into their home, in close proximity to their young daughter, Hotaru (Momone Shinokawa). Yasada manages to put the mother's mind at rest by offering to teach Hotaru how to play the harmonium and the former jailbird tenderly devotes hours to helping the girl master the tricky instrument. Akie's attitude gradually mellows and she initiates a flirtation with her house guest, behind the back of her husband. Matters come to a shocking resolution that unpicks the fabric of the family's cosy existence.
