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After the Storm (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

After the Storm (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 117 min · English
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Directed by
Hirokazu Koreeda

A once-celebrated writer, Ryota now struggles with a failing marriage and financial ruin. Following his mother’s death, he attempts to rebuild relationships with his estranged wife and son. Facing a tempestuous summer night, he is forced to confront past mistakes and the consequences of his choices, hoping to find forgiveness and a renewed sense of family.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like After the Storm
  8. 8 Every angle
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4 main characters · contains spoilers

After the Storm Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of After the Storm (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Ryota (Hiroshi Abe)

    Ryota is a struggling private detective and former author who dwells on his past successes. His gambling habits and inability to provide for his son reveal his deeper insecurities and flaws. As the story progresses, he begins to seek redemption and a meaningful connection with his son.

    • 👨‍👦 Fatherhood
    • 📚 Struggle
    • 💔 Regret
  • Yoshiko (Kirin Kiki)

    Yoshiko is Ryota's aging mother, who finds solace in her new hobbies and the company of local friends. Her character represents the wisdom and strength of older generations, often contrasting with her son's struggles. She plays a crucial role in supporting her family while trying to maintain her independence.

    • 👵 Family
    • 💪 Resilience
    • 🌼 Independence
  • Kyoko (Yoko Maki)

    Kyoko is Ryota's ex-wife who has grown weary of his failures and excuses. Her character serves as a symbol of the need for stability and pragmatism in relationships. She is determined to ensure a secure future for their son, often at the expense of her feelings for Ryota.

    • 💔 Relationships
    • 👩‍👦 Motherhood
    • 🔒 Security
  • Shingo (Taiyo Yoshizawa)

    Shingo is Ryota's young son, representing innocence and the desire for connection. His relationship with his father is central to the narrative, showcasing the impact of adult choices on children's lives. Through their bond, the film emphasizes the importance of nurturing familial relationships.

    • 👦 Childhood
    • 🌈 Connection
    • 💖 Innocence

Last updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:50

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Setting

Where and When Does After the Storm Take Place?

The setting of After the Storm (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Contemporary

The story unfolds in contemporary Japan, amidst modern societal expectations and challenges. This time period is characterized by shifting family dynamics, the pressures of financial stability, and the struggle to maintain personal relationships. The characters grapple with contemporary issues such as parental responsibilities and personal aspirations.

Location

Japan

The movie primarily takes place in Japan, depicting both urban and suburban settings. The storm and the family home play significant roles in the story, creating a juxtaposition between the external chaos and the internal struggles of the characters. The home serves as a backdrop for pivotal family moments, reflecting Japanese culture and familial bonds.

  • 🇯🇵 Japan
  • 🌧️ Storm
  • 🏠 Home

Last updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:50

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2 major themes

After the Storm Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is After the Storm (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Familial Bonds

    The movie explores the complexities of family relationships, particularly between a father and son. Ryota's attempts to reconnect with his son amidst personal failures highlight the theme of familial responsibility. The storm symbolizes both external turmoil and the internal conflict within the family, emphasizing the need for support and understanding.

  • Redemption

    Ryota's journey reflects a struggle for personal redemption as he confronts his past mistakes. His efforts to reconnect with his son serve as a catalyst for change in his life. This theme underscores the importance of self-improvement and the possibility of change, even amidst challenges.

Last updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:50

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Character & theme questions

After the Storm Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about After the Storm (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does After the Storm take place?

The movie takes place in Japan, featuring both urban and suburban settings. The family home serves as a central backdrop for pivotal moments between the characters, reflecting Japanese culture and familial bonds.

  • japan
  • setting
  • family home
  • location
Q2

When is After the Storm set?

The film is set in contemporary Japan, depicting modern societal expectations and challenges. The story reflects current issues like financial pressures, shifting family dynamics, and the struggle to maintain personal relationships.

  • contemporary
  • time period
  • modern japan
Q3

What does the storm symbolize in After the Storm?

The storm serves as both an external chaos and internal conflict within the family. It symbolizes the turmoil and emotional upheaval the characters experience, while also representing a catalyst for reflection and potential renewal.

  • storm
  • symbolism
  • metaphor
  • emotional turmoil
Q4

What are the main themes of After the Storm?

The movie explores two primary themes: Familial Bonds, focusing on the complex relationship between father and son, and Redemption, following Ryota's journey to confront past mistakes and seek personal change. These themes intertwine as the protagonist attempts to rebuild fractured family connections.

  • themes
  • familial bonds
  • redemption
  • family relationships
Q5

Who is Ryota in After the Storm?

Ryota is a struggling private detective and former author who grapples with gambling habits and financial instability. Once celebrated, he now faces a failing marriage and seeks redemption by reconnecting with his estranged son, hoping to overcome his past failures.

  • ryota
  • protagonist
  • detective
  • former author
Q6

Who is Kyoko in After the Storm?

Kyoko is Ryota's ex-wife, portrayed as pragmatic and focused on providing stability for their son. Weary of Ryota's failures and excuses, she represents the need for reliability in relationships and is determined to secure a stable future for their child.

  • kyoko
  • ex-wife
  • mother
  • stability
Q7

Who is Shingo in After the Storm?

Shingo is Ryota's young son, representing innocence and a deep desire for connection with his father. His relationship with Ryota is central to the narrative, illustrating how adult choices profoundly impact children's lives and emphasizing the importance of nurturing familial bonds.

  • shingo
  • son
  • innocence
  • father-son relationship
Q8

Who is Yoshiko in After the Storm?

Yoshiko is Ryota's aging mother, who finds solace in new hobbies and friendships within her community. She embodies the wisdom and resilience of older generations, supporting her family while maintaining her independence and offering guidance amid her son's struggles.

  • yoshiko
  • mother
  • grandmother
  • elder wisdom
Q9

What role does the family home play in After the Storm?

The family home serves as the primary setting where key family moments unfold, reflecting Japanese cultural values around family and domestic life. It creates a juxtaposition between the external chaos of the storm and the internal family struggles, acting as a symbolic space for reconciliation and confrontation.

  • family home
  • japanese culture
  • setting
  • domestic
Q10

What is the tone of After the Storm?

The film has a melancholic tone characterized by quiet character moments and internal struggles. Its slow pacing emphasizes reflection and the gradual nature of personal change, resulting in a bittersweet atmosphere that balances hope with acceptance of past consequences.

  • tone
  • mood
  • melancholic
  • bittersweet

Movie threads

More Movies Like After the Storm, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes After the Storm tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Family Redemption Stories Like After the Storm

Flawed characters seek to rebuild broken family bonds after personal failures. If you enjoyed the reflective and melancholic journey of rebuilding family in After the Storm, you'll find similar stories here. This collection features movies about flawed protagonists seeking redemption and reconnection, offering a quiet, character-driven experience with bittersweet emotional depth.

  • melancholic
  • reflective
  • hopeful
  • strained
  • nostalgic
  • pensive
  • Tone: melancholic, reflective
  • Pacing: slow, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a protagonist—often a father or parent—who is wrestling with the consequences of past mistakes, such as addiction or emotional neglect. The story unfolds slowly, centering on small, meaningful interactions and the difficult, often imperfect process of seeking forgiveness and a second chance from estranged loved ones.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on internal struggle, realistic family dynamics, and a melancholic yet hopeful tone. They offer a similar viewing experience of quiet contemplation and emotional authenticity, where the journey toward redemption is as important as the outcome.

Bittersweet Realistic Dramas Like After the Storm

Stories that find hope and sadness in the quiet, unvarnished truths of life. For viewers who appreciated the authentic and bittersweet feel of After the Storm, this section highlights similar realistic dramas. These movies explore everyday struggles with a gentle hand, blending sadness with glimmers of hope, and are perfect for those seeking profound, slice-of-life storytelling.

  • bittersweet
  • realistic
  • quiet
  • hopeful
  • somber
  • contemplative
  • Tone: bittersweet, realistic
  • Pacing: slow, observational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are straightforward and linear, often centered on a period of crisis or transition in an ordinary person's life. The conflict is internal and relational, driven by the gap between aspiration and reality. Endings are typically bittersweet, accepting that some things are lost forever while finding value in what remains.

Why they belong together: These films share a core ethos of emotional honesty and a rejection of simplistic endings. They are united by a specific mood blend: a grounding in realistic detail, a pacing that allows for reflection, and a tone that gracefully balances melancholy with moments of quiet hope.

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Movies Like After the Storm

Similar movies to After the Storm: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

After the Storm (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about After the Storm in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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