In January 2023, we were delighted to discover on Netflix the very beautiful series Makanai: In the maiko kitchen by Hirokazu Kore-eda, an incredibly delicate adaptation of a popular manga in Japan. The writer-director, winner of the 2018 Palme d’Or for Family Affair, returns to Netflix on January 9 with Asura, a series he wrote and directed entirely himself.
what is an asura
According to the novel Ashura not Gotoku By Kuniko Mukoda, Asura tells the story of four sisters: Tsunako (Rie Miyazawa), an ikebana teacher, Makiko (Machiko Ono), a housekeeper, Takiko (Yu Aoi), a librarian, and Sakiko (Suzu Hirose), a waitress. One winter day, they meet for the first time in a long time.
Takiko suspects that their elderly father, Kotaro, has a mistress and a child. Although the other sisters find this unbelievable, they promise to hide it from their mother, Fuji. However, this turmoil sheds light on the various conflicts and secrets hidden in the lives of these women.
Adaptation of the novel and series
The novel has already been adapted into a mini-series on the Japanese channel NHK in 1979 and into a feature film titled A Family in Turmoil in 2003. The broadcaster added that, like ‘asuras’, a kind of demigod in Buddhism, women’Embody a storm of emotions violently colliding with moments of deep connection.“
During the announcement, Kore-eda said:What makes Kuniko Mukoda’s dramas so rich is the superficial venom exchanged in the conversations and the love hidden behind those cruel words. The four actresses who play the sisters understood this very well, and therefore it was a pleasure to shoot the series.“
Asura is produced by Yasuo Yagi and produced in conjunction with Tokyo-based production company Bunbuku. Yagi, who worked with Kuniko Mukoda until his death in 1981, said:On the 40th anniversary of his death, I looked back at his work and realized that family was in turmoil at the heart of his legacy. We focused on casting the best actresses for the sisters, and with Koreda as the director, I think we created a benchmark drama.“
See you on January 9th on Netflix
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
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