What a Wonderful Family! explained

What a Wonderful Family!
Native Name:
Kanji:家族はつらいよ
Revhep:Kazoku wa Tsurai yo
Director:Yoji Yamada
Producers:-->
Writers:-->
Starring:Isao Hashizume
Kazuko Yoshiyuki
Masahiko Nishimura
Yui Natsukawa
Tomoko Nakajima
Hayashiya Shōzō IX
Satoshi Tsumabuki
Yū Aoi
Narrators:-->
Production Companies:-->
Distributor:Shochiku
Runtime:108 minutes
Country:Japan
Language:Japanese

is a 2016 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada and starring Isao Hashizume, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Masahiko Nishimura, Yui Natsukawa, Tomoko Nakajima, Hayashiya Shōzō IX, Satoshi Tsumabuki and Yū Aoi.[1] It was released in Japan by Shochiku on March 12, 2016.[2] The film uses the same cast as Yamada's 2013 film Tokyo Family.

Plot summary

A husband (Isao Hashizume) and wife (Kazuko Yoshiyuki) have been married for 50 years. For her birthday, the husband asks the wife what she wants for her birthday present. She replies that she wants a divorce. The wife's divorce announcement sends the entire family into chaos. Their children are thrown into a state of panic to hear this news of separation. Amid the sudden tumult of life, each member of the family begins to voice out their respective grievances.

Cast[1]

Reception

On its opening weekend in Japan, the film was fourth placed, with 151,422 admissions and in gross.[3]

Sequels

Two sequels have been made from the film, featuring the same cast and characters: [4] (released 27 May 2017) and [5] (released 25 May 2018).

Remake

In December 2016 it was confirmed that the film would be remade in China, under a co-production between Edko and Shanghai Yiyantang Entertainment. The remake was directed by Huang Lei, who co-starred alongside his wife Sun Li.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 家族はつらいよ(2016). March 21, 2016. allcinema. Stingray. ja.
  2. Web site: 家族はつらいよ. March 21, 2016. eiga.com. ja.
  3. News: Japan Box Office Report – 3/12~3/13. March 15, 2016. March 21, 2016. tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC.
  4. Web site: 'What A Wonderful Family! 2': Film Review Hawaii 2017. The Hollywood Reporter. 13 December 2017 . 15 April 2018. en.
  5. Web site: 'What a Wonderful Family! 3: My Wife, My Life': Film Review Hong Kong 2018. The Hollywood Reporter. 5 April 2018 . 15 April 2018. en.
  6. News: China's Edko to Remake Yamada Yoji's 'What a Wonderful Family!'. The Hollywood Reporter. 2017-05-22. en.