After the Storm
A debt-ridden former literary prodigy gets one stormy night to reconnect with the family his stalled life has left behind.
Overview
A man's struggle to reclaim his life and family unfolds against the backdrop of a summer storm.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- gentle
- melancholic
- witty
- quiet evening
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a gently persuasive and deeply human Japanese family drama balancing quiet comedy with melancholy, parental responsibility, and forgiveness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ryota's financial failures, family conversations, meals, and overnight shelter during the storm create understated but emotionally precise drama.
Ryota continues to imagine himself as a prize-winning author while working as a private detective and neglecting child support.
The stormy summer night gives Ryota, Shingo, and their family a brief opportunity to reconnect.
The approaching storm and night spent together intensify the family's conversations and create space for renewed bonding.
Films like After the Storm, and why
Still Walking
shared japanese family drama, quiet realism, intergenerational tensions, and gently melancholic tone
Our Little Sister
shared intimate domestic drama, restrained observation, parental responsibility, and bittersweet warmth
Nobody Knows
shared kore-eda family focus, understated humor, emotional realism, and fractured parent child relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- Hirokazu Kore-eda
- Release Date
- 2016-05-21
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (409)
Cast
- Hiroshi Abe
- Kirin Kiki
- Yoko Maki
- Taiyo Yoshizawa
- Satomi Kobayashi
- Sosuke Ikematsu
- Lily Franky
- Isao Hashizume
- Kanji Furutachi
- Shono Hayama
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Film Movement Plus, Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is After the Storm about?
- A debt-ridden former literary prodigy gets one stormy night to reconnect with the family his stalled life has left behind.
- What is After the Storm like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of After the Storm as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is After the Storm violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in After the Storm.
- What did critics think of After the Storm?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a gently persuasive and deeply human Japanese family drama balancing quiet comedy with melancholy, parental responsibility, and forgiveness.
- Which films are like After the Storm?
- Films with a similar feel include Still Walking, Our Little Sister, and Nobody Knows.
- How long is After the Storm?
- After the Storm runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch After the Storm?
- In United States, After the Storm streams on Film Movement Plus, Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel.
