Nobody Knows
Four hidden siblings struggle to preserve their fragile happiness after their mother abandons them to survive alone in a Tokyo apartment.
Overview
A poignant exploration of childhood resilience amidst neglect and hardship.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- quiet
- observational
- quiet evening
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaimed the film as a tragic, haunting, and deeply humane portrait of child abandonment, praising its naturalistic direction and young performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Akira, only twelve, becomes responsible for feeding and protecting his younger siblings when Keiko leaves them alone.
The children’s lives unfold across everyday domestic routines and a year of changing circumstances with restrained direction.
The unschooled children remain hidden in their Tokyo apartment while financial and practical support steadily disappears.
The apartment loses power, gas, and water as money runs out and the landlord demands rent.
Films like Nobody Knows, and why
Shoplifters
naturalistic child-centered drama about family instability, neglect, and emotional resilience
Like Father, Like Son
quietly devastating japanese family drama focused on parental absence and fractured domestic bonds
The Florida Project
observational social drama depicting vulnerable children and institutional indifference with humane restraint
Still Walking
slow-burning family drama using everyday routines to reveal abandonment, poverty, and grief
Movie Details
- Director
- Hirokazu Kore-eda
- Release Date
- 2004-08-07
- Runtime
- 141 min
- Rating
- 8.0 / 10 (685)
Cast
- Yuya Yagira
- Ayu Kitaura
- Hiei Kimura
- Momoko Shimizu
- Hanae Kan
- YOU
- Ryo Kase
- Kazuyoshi Kushida
- Yukiko Okamoto
- Sei Hiraizumi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Nobody Knows about?
- Four hidden siblings struggle to preserve their fragile happiness after their mother abandons them to survive alone in a Tokyo apartment.
- What is Nobody Knows like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Nobody Knows as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Nobody Knows violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Nobody Knows as mild.
- What did critics think of Nobody Knows?
- Critics broadly acclaimed the film as a tragic, haunting, and deeply humane portrait of child abandonment, praising its naturalistic direction and young performances.
- Which films are like Nobody Knows?
- Films with a similar feel include Shoplifters, Like Father, Like Son, The Florida Project, and Still Walking.
- How long is Nobody Knows?
- Nobody Knows runs 141 minutes.
- Where can I watch Nobody Knows?
- In United States, Nobody Knows streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
