Like Father, Like Son – A Heartbreaking Story of Love, Blood, and Choices
What defines a father? Is it the blood that runs in the veins or the love that grows over time? Like Father, Like Son is not just a film — it’s an emotional journey that pulls you deep into a world where two families are forced to question everything they thought they knew about parenthood.
Directed by the brilliant Hirokazu Kore-eda, this Japanese masterpiece is not loud or flashy — instead, it’s quiet, poetic, and soul-stirring. With its slow but impactful storytelling, the movie raises powerful questions about family, love, and identity that stay with you long after the credits roll.
Plot Summary: A Twist of Fate
Ryota Nonomiya is a successful architect. He is ambitious, disciplined, and believes in hard work, routine, and perfection. With his wife Midori and their six-year-old son Keita, he lives a well-structured life in Tokyo.
Everything seems perfect — until one day, they receive a phone call from the hospital where Keita was born. The shocking news? Keita is not their biological son. He was accidentally switched at birth with another boy who was raised by a different family — the Saikis.
Two boys. Two families. And one heartbreaking truth.
Two Different Worlds, One Painful Dilemma
Ryota’s family is wealthy, quiet, and conservative. In contrast, the Saikis are loud, cheerful, and lower-middle-class. They run a small store and live with joy, chaos, and deep emotional bonding.
Now, the two families are left with an impossible choice: Do they exchange the children to be with their biological sons? Or continue raising the children they’ve known and loved for six years?
This moral conflict forms the heart of the film.
Ryota’s Inner Struggle: Logic vs. Emotion
Ryota is a man of reason. To him, being a father has always been about responsibility, providing for the family, and shaping his child’s future. But when he meets his biological son — the one raised by the Saikis — he feels a sense of loss for the time he missed.
At the same time, the emotional bond he shares with Keita — the boy he has raised — begins to haunt him. As he spends time with both children, Ryota is forced to ask himself: “Can fatherhood be defined only by DNA?”
His cold, logical exterior begins to crack as he confronts emotions he had long buried.
The Innocence of Children: Seeing the World Through Their Eyes
One of the film’s most powerful aspects is how it portrays the children — especially little Keita. He doesn’t understand the adult complexity of blood ties or family names. To him, his father is the one who brushes his teeth, helps him play the piano, and holds his hand while crossing the street.
When Keita is suddenly asked to live with strangers, his eyes fill with silent confusion. He doesn’t cry loudly, but his sadness is deeply visible. His innocence becomes the most painful part of the story.
A Masterstroke by Hirokazu Kore-eda
Kore-eda is known for his subtle, deeply emotional films, and Like Father, Like Son may be his finest work yet. He avoids melodrama and instead lets silence speak. His style is calm, observational, and realistic — just like life.
He allows the story to unfold naturally, with long pauses, real locations, and natural lighting. Nothing feels staged or artificial. This realism is what makes the film so emotionally powerful.
Performances that Touch the Soul
Masaharu Fukuyama as Ryota delivers a deeply layered performance. His transformation from a cold, logical man to a vulnerable, broken father is breathtaking.
Machiko Ono as Midori brings quiet strength and emotion. Her character represents the heart of the family and the quiet pain of a mother forced to choose.
Riri Furanki as Yudai Saiki, the biological father of Keita, adds humor and warmth to the film. His carefree nature contrasts beautifully with Ryota’s seriousness.
And the real gem: Keita Ninomiya, the child actor who plays Keita. His expressions, silence, and innocence are so real, you forget he’s acting.
Symbolism and Quiet Power
Throughout the film, small moments carry deep symbolism. The father photographing the children, the children playing with a toy airplane, Keita listening to old piano recordings — each scene speaks volumes without saying much.
There is one particularly heartbreaking moment where Ryota listens to a recording of Keita playing the piano — and for the first time, he truly hears the child’s soul. It’s in these quiet details that the film hits hardest.
A Question That Echoes in Every Parent’s Heart
It challenges the traditional view that biology is everything. Instead, it offers a gentler, deeper perspective — that true parenthood is about care, time, shared memories, and emotional connection.
In a world where identity is often linked to genetics, this film dares to ask: “Isn’t love a stronger bond?”
Critical Acclaim and Global Praise
Like Father, Like Son won the Jury Prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and received global recognition. Steven Spielberg, who headed the jury that year, was so moved by the film that he considered remaking it in Hollywood.
Audiences around the world praised the film for its honesty and depth. It wasn’t just watched — it was felt.
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