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Kabei: Our Mother

2008·Movie
2h 13min
82
GreatGoodWatch score

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No stream option in US yet.

Kabei: Our Mother fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension5
  • Fast Pace4
  • Spectacle4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos9
  • Family Dynamics9
  • Melancholy8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Situational Comedy2
  • Dark Humor2

World

History, family, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

An inspiring story of a mother's courage in a time of war.

Set in Tokyo in 1940, the peaceful life of the Nogami Family suddenly changes when the father, Shigeru, is arrested and accused of being a Communist. His wife Kayo works frantically from morning to night to maintain the household and bring up her two daughters with the support of Shigeru's sister Hisako and Shigeru's ex-student Yamazaki, but her husband does not return. WWII breaks out and casts dark shadows on the entire country, but Kayo still tries to keep her cheerful determination, and sustain the family with her love. This is an emotional drama of a mother and an eternal message for peace.
Japanese Historical DramaFamily ResilienceWartime StrugglesMelancholyMotherhoodEmotionalComing-of-AgeWorld War IIHope

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Kabei: Our Mother

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Kabei: Our Mother legally?

You can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Kabei: Our Mother worth watching?

82
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83/100 (IMDb 7.6 and Rotten Tomatoes 88%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Kabei: Our Mother rated?

ViolenceSuicide themes

Content advisories: violence and suicide themes.

How long is Kabei: Our Mother?

2 h 13 min

Kabei: Our Mother runs 2 h 13 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Kabei: Our Mother?

Critics88
Audiences78

Not quite. Critics rate Kabei: Our Mother higher (88) than audiences (78). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Kabei: Our Mother in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.

In how many countries can I watch Kabei: Our Mother?

3ESJPUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Kabei: Our Mother in 3 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.