Like Father, Like Son

In contemporary Tokyo, the rhythm of glass‑clad skyscrapers and quiet suburban streets mirrors the orderly life of Ryōta Nonomiya, a dedicated architect whose world is built on precision and control. He and his wife Midori have cultivated a seemingly perfect family, raising their young son Keita amid the sleek routines of a career‑driven household. The city’s polished veneer, however, conceals an undercurrent of uncertainty that suddenly surfaces when a routine hospital call shatters their measured existence.

The revelation that a newborn mix‑up may have swapped Keita with another child introduces a profound moral quandary that forces the couple to confront the fragile foundations of identity and responsibility. As they grapple with the unsettling possibility that the boy they have loved may not be their biological son, the film gently unfurls a meditation on what truly defines parenthood—blood, memory, or the everyday moments of connection.

Across town, the other family caught in the same administrative error lives a contrasting life. Yukari and Yūdai Saiki, whose modest lifestyle is steeped in simplicity and heartfelt devotion, embody a different perspective on love and duty. Their presence hints at the varied ways people cope with loss, hope, and the yearning to belong, setting up a delicate emotional dance between the two households without revealing the steps they will eventually take.

The tone of the story is introspective yet warm, balancing the crisp efficiency of modern Japanese urbanity with the messy, tender realities of family life. Through quiet conversations, lingering glances, and the unspoken weight of daily routines, the film invites the audience to contemplate how love can reshape even the most rigid of worldviews, leaving a lingering curiosity about the choices that lie ahead.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 05:55