Still Walking

Still Walking

Year: 2009

Runtime: 114 min

Language: Japanese

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda

Drama

Fifteen years after the tragic drowning of their son Junpei, the Yokoyama family comes together to commemorate the anniversary of his death. As the siblings reunite with their spouses and children, long-buried grief and unresolved emotions come to the surface. Over the course of a single day filled with shared meals and storytelling, they confront their lingering pain, rediscover family bonds, and find solace in remembering the boy they lost.

Melancholic
Bittersweet ending
Emotionally heavy
Medium intensity
Slow pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Still Walking (2009)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Still Walking (2009). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The movie unfolds during contemporary times, focusing on the family's present-day interactions while peppered with memories of the past. This juxtaposition of history and the present allows for exploration of grief, remembrance, and the evolving relationships within the family.

Location

Yokohama

Yokohama is a vibrant port city in Japan known for its historical significance and cultural diversity. It is a place where the modern skyline meets the rich heritage of early foreign trade. The setting provides a backdrop for family reunions and deep emotional connections, representing both nostalgia and the complexities of familial ties.

🏙️ City 🏡 Home

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:34

Main Characters – Still Walking (2009)

Meet the key characters of Still Walking (2009), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Kyohei

Kyohei is the retired doctor and father figure, depicted as deeply entrenched in his grief over the loss of his eldest son. His bitterness towards Ryota's career choice and constant comparison with Junpei reveal his struggles with acceptance. Though stern and seemingly distant, Kyohei's emotions reflect the complexity of love and loss within familial relationships.

👨‍⚕️ Doctor 😞 Grief

Toshiko

Toshiko, the mother, embodies a nurturing yet tormented spirit, trying to keep the memory of her son alive. Her attachment to Junpei's belongings illustrates her difficulty moving on. Throughout the film, her relationship with Kyohei also reveals vulnerabilities and the heartache that accompanies enduring love amid tragedy.

👩‍👧 Mother 💔 Heartache

Ryota

Ryota, the surviving son, grapples with his identity as he compares himself to his deceased brother. His struggle for validation and acceptance from his father underscores familial expectations and the weight of legacy. As he navigates his role as a husband and stepfather, Ryota's character captures the nuances of familial love and societal pressure.

👨‍🎨 Artist 🤔 Reflection

Yukari

Yukari, Ryota's wife, represents a bridge between past sorrows and future hopes. Initially met with skepticism by Kyohei and Toshiko, her kindness gradually earns their acceptance, reflecting the complexities of blending families. Through her interactions, Yukari cultivates warmth and understanding within the family unit.

👩‍❤️‍👨 Wife 🌼 Acceptance

Atsushi

Atsushi, Yukari's young son, navigates his new family dynamics with shyness and innocence. His presence serves as a reminder of the potential for new beginnings and the importance of nurturing relationships. As the family contemplates the future, Atsushi symbolizes hope amid lingering grief.

👦 Child 🌱 Hope

Chinami

Chinami, Ryota's sister, provides a lighter touch to family gatherings, serving as a grounding presence amid the heaviness of past memories. Her family responsibilities showcase the importance of interdependence and support while underscoring the shared history that binds them all together.

👩 Sister 💪 Support

Yoshio

Yoshio, the boy saved by Junpei, introduces a complicated layer of conflicting emotions to the family dynamics. As a reminder of their son's sacrifice, he creates tension and evokes both resentment and empathy within the Yokoyama family. His aimlessness reflects struggles faced by those grappling with past traumas.

👨‍🦱 Visitor 🌧️ Conflict

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:34

Major Themes – Still Walking (2009)

Explore the central themes of Still Walking (2009), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Grief

Grief is a central theme, deeply affecting each family member in their unique ways. The annual reunion is shrouded in sorrow, as they come together to honor the memory of Junpei, whose loss continues to shape their lives. The movie poignantly explores how grief transforms relationships, revealing underlying tensions and unresolved issues.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Dynamics

The film delves into complex family dynamics, highlighting generational differences, expectations, and the burdens of legacy. Each character navigates their roles within the family, revealing resentment and love intertwined. The reunion serves as a catalyst for confronting these issues, illuminating the struggles of acceptance and understanding.

🔄 Tradition

Tradition plays a vital role in the narrative, illustrating how family rituals can foster connections or exacerbate tensions. The annual gathering not only honors the past but also emphasizes the importance of continuity and the transmission of values across generations. This theme weaves through the characters' interactions, shaping their identities and aspirations.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:34

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Quiet Family Reunion Dramas like Still Walking

Stories where a family gathering uncovers generations of buried emotions.If you liked the intimate, melancholic portrayal of family in Still Walking, explore more movies like it. These similar family drama stories focus on reunions, subtle tensions, and the heavy emotional weight of shared history, offering a quiet and reflective viewing experience.

family dynamicsunspoken tensionmelancholicreflectivequietgrievinggenerationalrealistic

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically unfold over a short period, often a single day or weekend, centered around a family event or ritual. The plot is driven by conversations and small interactions that gradually reveal the complex web of relationships, old wounds, and the struggle for connection between generations.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped together by their shared focus on realistic family dynamics, a melancholic and reflective tone, and a slow, deliberate pacing that allows emotional nuance to emerge naturally from everyday situations.

Slow-Paced Films About Processing Grief like Still Walking

Films that use slow pacing to explore the quiet, lingering nature of loss.Find movies similar to Still Walking that share its contemplative approach to grief and loss. If you appreciated its slow pacing and heavy emotional weight, these films offer a comparable experience of sitting with sadness and finding bittersweet moments of connection.

grievingmelancholicintrospectivesombercontemplativememorybittersweetquiet

Narrative Summary

The narrative often avoids large, dramatic events, instead focusing on the interior lives of characters as they navigate the aftermath of a loss. The journey is internal and cyclical, moving through memories, regrets, and small steps toward acceptance, often leading to a bittersweet rather than cathartic conclusion.

Why These Movies?

They share a specific combination of a slow, deliberate pace, a heavy emotional weight centered on sadness, and a tone that is deeply melancholic and introspective, creating a meditative space for exploring loss.

Unlock the Full Story of Still Walking

Don't stop at just watching — explore Still Walking in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Still Walking is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Still Walking Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Still Walking, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Still Walking Summary

Still Walking Timeline

Track the full timeline of Still Walking with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Still Walking Timeline

Still Walking Spoiler-Free Summary

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Still Walking Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Still Walking

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Still Walking: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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Still Walking (2009) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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