Acclaimed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Maborosi, After Life) paints a hauntingly beautiful portrait of child abandonment with his latest film, "Nobody Knows." Akira (Yuya Yagira) is the eldest son of flighty mother Keiko, who often leaves him and his three younger siblings alone for extended periods of time. Further complicating the children's lives, the three youngest brothers are not allowed outside of the apartment for fear that the family will be evicted by a landlord who doesn't know of their existence. One day Keiko leaves some money and a note for Akira telling him she will not return. Akira steps into the parental role, and with his care and planning, the children are able to survive. But as money runs low their lives take a turn for the worse. We observe the children's innocent longing for their mother, their cautious fascination with the world around them, and growing anxiety about their dire situation. Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune writes that the film "takes us on a journey into the special domain of childhood, a voyage joyous, shattering -- and supremely convincing." Yagira was honored with the best actor award at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

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