Hirokazu Kore-eda's Netflix Series 'Asura' Explores Family Dynamics

Hirokazu Kore-eda, winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes for 'Shoplifters' (2018), has released a new Netflix series titled 'Asura'. The series is based on the novel 'Ashura no Gotoku' by Kuniko Mukoda and focuses on the relationships among four sisters. Set in Japan between the 1970s and 1980s, the story begins when Takiko reveals that their father has a younger mistress with whom he has a child, disrupting the family's apparent harmony. Kore-eda, born in Tokyo on June 6, 1962, started his career as a documentary filmmaker, which influenced his minimalist style and deep character introspection. His film 'Like Father, Like Son' (2013) won the Jury Prize at Cannes and explored similar themes of family bonds. 'Asura' shares thematic connections with his earlier film 'Our Little Sister' (2015), which also dealt with sisters reuniting after their father's death. The series offers a starting point for new viewers while enriching Kore-eda's ongoing exploration of family dynamics.