Like Father, Like Son

Ryota Nonomiya is a successful, pragmatic businessman who has spent his life chasing wealth and efficiency. When a medical check reveals a painful truth about his family, he discovers that the boy he has raised may not be his biological son. The revelation sends a quiet ripple through both his wife Midori and their relatives, forcing them to confront what really defines kinship. Across a series of restrained, intimate moments, Kore-eda follows Ryota as he weighs blood ties against the love he has cultivated for years, and the idea of what a family should be. Its measured tempo invites viewers to consider how ordinary acts of care shape a lifetime.

Released in 2013, Like Father, Like Son is directed by Hiro-ren Kore-eda. It unfolds as an intimate drama drawing on an original screenplay by Kore-eda, rather than adapting a pre existing work, with a focus on quiet, naturalistic performances worldwide.

At the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, Like Father, Like Son was honored with the Jury Prize, a sign of its broad critical resonance. The film's restrained approach and moral questions earned praise from festival critics and helped cement Kore-eda's reputation worldwide. This recognition boosted Kore-eda's profile among international audiences and critics.

Critics and audiences picked up on its humane look at family bonds and the tension between biology and nurture. The film sparked conversations about what makes a family and became a touchstone for discussions of class, parenthood, and moral responsibility in contemporary cinema. Its mood lingers in contemporary film talks.

Viewers and critics praised its understated performances and ethical questions about parents and children, and the film holds a solid score from audience reviews. The central themes probe how love, choice, and circumstance shape family life, with a quiet intensity that sticks with you and the idea that families endure.