If you want to read my review of The Asadas, read this post. In 浅田家, Masashi Asada fulfilled his dream of being a professional photographer and gained popularity taking pictures of families across Japan, until a huge tragedy struck, causing him to leave home in search of missing families.
Yukihiro Asada (Satoshi Tsumabuki) is the older brother and, like his father, Akira Asada (Mitsuru Hirata), and mother, Junko Asada (Jun Fubuki), has always supported his brother’s dream.
“My little brother became a photographer. He did it with our whole family’s help.”
Masashi Asada (Kazunari Ninomiya) had two passions since he was a child, photography and Wakana-chan. As a photographer, he just wanted to photograph things he understood very well.
“If you could take only one photo for the rest of your life, what would it be?”
Masashi left home to study photography in Osaka, and for two and a half years he didn’t send news to the rest of the Asada family. One day, he came home with dyed hair, full of tattoos and nearly flunking out of college. What happened?
The Asadas: japanese movie review
Masashi would only graduate from college if he developed a perfect project, in a single picture. So he came up with the idea of portraying one of the funniest childhood moments with his family.
“This photo won Masashi his school’s top award, the Dean’s Prize, and delighted our parentes.”
After this incredible success, he completely lost interest in photography, disappointing his girlfriend, who left him to try life in Tokyo.
“I do. If I find something worth shooting.”
While Masashi was wondering what he wanted to be, he decided to photograph all the family members fulfilling their dreams, if only for one day.
“That’s it. That’s what you should be!”
With this idea, the Asada Family sets out to find the perfect photo that portrays all the family’s dreams and interests. The result was a sensational photo album.
“Yukihiro, I think I’ll take these with me to Tokyo.”
After nearly two years living with Wakana in Tokyo and not being able to display the Asada family photos, they use their own money for a public display.
“It’s so unpretentious. I couldn’t help laughing. Your father’s a riot!”
Finally, Masashi managed to get published by a publisher. But sales were not good. Sales were a failure.
“Your work is quality. I’m still convinced of that.”
Sooner or later, recognition would come. Prizes and invitations to photograph families across the country. Unfortunately, on one of these trips, Japan is hit by a tsunami, and at that moment, Masashi closed his lens and turned his eyes to a tragedy unprecedented in recent Japanese history.
Reviewing The Asadas: tsunami volunteer
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake hit the Tohoku region. As the epicenter was along the coast of Japan, a giant wave was created and devastated everything in its path. Leaving nearly 20,000 dead.
Masashi has gone in search of the family members he had photographed. At that time, he met Ono-san (Masaki Suda) and started helping him restore photos found in the rubble. More than a decade later, about 2,500 people have not been found.
More than 80,000 photos were recovered and more than 60,000 were returned to their owners or relatives who managed to survive, serving as a way to keep alive the memory of those who died and what life was like before the tragedy.
Why you should watch The Asadas
I won’t leave The Asadas ending explained or a download link here, but even with the twist that this Japanese film took, from a family comedy to a drama based on real events, the film is very beautiful and touching.
Another Japanese film that I recommend that portrays the drama that was experienced by the victims of the tsunami is One Day, You Will Reach The Sea. It is noteworthy that this film is considerably sadder than The Asadas.
The Asadas trailer
I really feel that you will like this one. So I decided to do this Asadake review. Go ahead, immerse yourself in the story, the environment and the soundtrack.
And come back later to tell me what you think in the comments. Even with the plot twist this japanese movie is very touching and funny.
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