Asa ga kuru

Naomi Kawase's 'True Mothers' is an emotionally charged drama about motherhood in all its forms. Drawn with emotionally deep performances from the leading actresses, Hiromi Nagasaku and Aju Makita, the film focuses on the process, not the outcome. So, despite the slow burn and somewhat longer running time, it lingers in one's mind and heart in the best way possible and pays off in the end.

A bunch of emotionally stunted people who seems to do everything in slow motion. Half of the dialogues consist of people whispering as if they're constantly frightened. Very infantile and they seem to think almost everything is embarrassing.

Perhaps interesting for those studying Japanese culture but of no value to others who want to watch a movie to get some entertainment.

Slow, slow and once again slow. The plot could be presented in an hour instead of more than two. But there's a reason Japanese film rarely mean success on the international movie scene.

Turn it off before you even consider watching it!

Good performances and beautiful cinematography underlining a delicate sensitive script for the most part. But the movie dragged in the second half and the tone was spoiled by an unnecessary subplot. It would have benefited by tighter editing - and greater confidence on the director's part that not every single tiny thing needed to be spelled out.

It was refreshing to be drawn from both perspectives. I think Naomi Kawase is one of the best Japanese direcors.

I don't agree with the complaints of users that the movie is too long and slow-moving. It consistently held my interest. Yes, there are a few gaps in the plot. Many of the characters' personalities are too black and white -- there are basically good guys and bad guys. And the movie veers too stongly toward supports the notion of "the beauty of young love" -- young lust is usually more like it, with the unfortunate parents, portrayed as vicious here, left to pick up the pieces. Still, the movie is affecting, and you do feel for the main characters, even if, as I say, a little more nuance would have been nice.