Distributor: Toho
Survival Family (サバイバルファミリー Sabaibaru Famirī) Movie Review
Currently watching this movie, which is perfect for a cold and rainy day here in London.
- Genre: Survival, Apocalyptic, Family
- Release Date: 2017
- Origin: Japan
- Film: 1hr 57minutes
Main Cast:
- Fumiyo Kohinata as Yoshiyuki Suzuki, the Father
- Eri Fukatsu as Mitsue Suzuki, the Mother
- Yuki Izumisawa as Kenji Suzuki, the Son
- Wakana Aoi as Yui Suzuki, the Daughter
The story is about learning to go back to basic, doing away with the most modern of technologies.
Two and a half years ago, the Suzukis were a ‘normal’ family, who lived and often rely on, on ready meals and junk foods. They were attached to their mobile phones and computers as if they were an extension of their bodies. They were so busy with their hectic social media lives and techno-gizmos that they have forgotten how to be filial to their elders.
One of the early scenes of the movie showed Mitsue unpacking a fresh food package sent by her father who still farms in the countryside. She was faced with a fresh fish, which she did not know how to prepare.
Yui, the daughter was so dismissive of the fresh food as if it was an alien life form.
But one day they woke up to not having electricity; batteries were mysteriously drained. It was explained near the end of the film that a solar flare from a comet attack the major nuclear power plants in the world and somehow affected anything that uses electricity.
Unfortunately, this was only guess-work by the scientists as they did not have a way to check as computers and other useful technology were left non-functioning. 🙂 🙂 🙂
For the first few days, the Suzuki family persevered living in Tokyo and made do with what they’ve got until food became scarcer and everyone from their neighbourhood started leaving in droves.
The family had no choice but move out as well. Yoshiyuki bought bicycles and decided to take the whole family to his wife’s family farm.
Along the way they met a lot of problems including starvation, drinking from unsafe water source, unsanitary conditions (yukky gruesome toilets) some thievery and nowhere to sleep comfortably. The spoiled Yui and Kenji learned to cope with the unexpected situation.
Their trek was not always doom and gloom. There were some kind people, who were willing to assist and generously offered them sanctuary.
These scenes were so different from Western similar disaster films, where everyone looks after their own. Shops are looted and overnight people seemed to turn feral. It’s a dog eats dog world.
I know now where to go if faced with this kind of survival dilemma. 🙂 hehehe
After so much travails and tribulation, the family reached the family farm. For the remaining of the two and a half years without electricity, they learned to live simply, frugaly and healthily. They were fishing, farming and learned to weave. I thought it was very ideal.
When the electricity came back, the family resumed their normal life back in Tokyo but they are more connected with each other.
The film is very interesting. It is a great reminder that we should never forget how to cope with the basic necessities in life. Computers and technology should not rule our lives. Learn botany, know what grass or weeds that are edible!
I think I shall get a Dummies book for coping and surviving a long term disaster… or something 🙂