I Wish

“I was so reluctant to let go of the movie that I sat all the way through the final credits. The whole second half of the film is a nonstop smile.”—Stuart Klawans, The Nation

“The rare example of a film that actually understands kids. Touching, never treacly, realistic, and sweet.”—IndieWire

Anyone who saw acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Nobody Knows can confirm that he is one of the most astute filmmakers dealing with stories about children. I Wish provides another lovely opportunity for him to explore childhood fantasy and longing.

Koichi, age 12, lives with his mother and grandparents in the south of Japan, while Ryunosuke, his younger brother, lives with his father in the north. The brothers have been separated by their parents' divorce, and Koichi’s only wish is for his family to be reunited. When he learns that a new bullet train line will soon be linking the towns where he and his brother live, he starts to believe that a miracle will take place the moment these new trains pass each other at top speed. With help from the adults around him, Koichi sets out on a journey with a group of friends, each hoping to witness a miracle that will improve their difficult lives. (128 mins., digital presentation)