The Asadas were a happy family out of the ordinary and the story pivots around them and the main character, Masashi, a young photographer trying to deal with an uncertain future and with his cowardly attitude towards challenges.

It is a good storyline, depicting Japan around the time when the Tsunami happened in 2011.

The director tries to keep the audience always awake, although sometimes scenes flow pretty slowly, almost trying to let you think about it, together with Masashi.

It is very light and there is no serious Japanese drama going on for most of the movie, until it does, but this is always very polite and delicate. It is almost trying to dampen the impact of the dramatic aspects and instead trying to steer moods to the brighter side.

When the earthquake happens, Masashi runs leaving his sick father alone with his brother and mother, to go helping people recover lost pictures, he wasn't taking pictures of the tragedy.

He wanted to help connecting through what he knew best.

In some sense it was a picture of the Japanese society at it's best.

That is the essence that I think this movie is attempting to transmit.

During those attempts it is sometimes corny beyond what I call the "reasonable corn limit". Bummer.

It is a movie for everyone, any age pretty much.

I watched it with my 10 years old daughter and she was happy.

We need more movies like this one, we really do.

The Asadas is a middle-class family living in a small fisherman's village in Japan. The mother provides the sole income to the family, working as a nurse, while a stay-at-home dad takes care of the house and their two sons.

Masashi is the main protagonist. He's the youngest brother and picks up photography from the very young age. However he does it his own way: with love and a prerequisite to fully understand his subject before taking the picture.

Despite cultural gaps (I'm French), the universality of individual choices that makes Masashi and family importance resonated in me.

First, Masashi pursues photography, a true passion of his, despite difficulties that can arise from an artistic career. He initiates projects, driven by inspiration or opportunities, without a clear career plan. As the movie progresses, dots connect. His life is punctuated by moments of doubts, limbo, but also bursts of creativity and compassion. This made me feel hopeful: at the end, if I follow my passion, everything will make sense at the end and I'll be able to contribute positively to the world in my own way.

The movie also stroke my family chord, as it reminded of all the fun and safe moments I have the chance to experience family. It made me appreciate what I have.

I fully recommend yo uto see this movie: it is subtle, heart-warming, and uplifting.