An incredible biographical movie about a seven-year-old Japanese girl called Oshin that is set in the Meiji period (1907). The life journey of a little kid who went through the family difficulties. It was, actually a movie adaptation of the popular 80s television series. Not only the Japan, but it rocked all the neighbor countries and became one of the most watched program. Knowing by reading about the series created more interest in me than this movie that I saw. Hope some day gonna get an opportunity to see it.A young girl Oshin is forced to drop out school to help her family's financial situation. Her contribution is that she's sent to a rich house as a live-in servant. She has to work hard in order to feed her family. It is not a smooth job as she had no experience before. Sooner, the problem arises that put her job and family in peril. How she works out on the issue and learns to blend in thinking only the outcome, not individually by herself is what the whole movie speaks about.''Wars are won by killing people. That's not great.''Here is the movie for 'tearjerkers'. It was a sentimental movie that uncovers the crisis of a poor family. The responsibility is always shared equally whether you are in your early age or too old in a family that suffers from food and income shortage. We won't get out to the streets to learn about below poverty level people so this movie is a good lesson to study. The people who liked 'The Pursuit of Happiness' will definitely like this movie as well.The story takes place 100 years ago and in the unknown cultural territory. So cultural wise it is a new dimension to observe and struggle wise it is same everywhere in the world. The kid acted so awesomely. I also heard that her mother was used to be the character Oshin in television series. So great to hear that she did a role in this movie. All in all it is a very good family drama to spend our 2 hour valuable time for it. Must go for it by tearjers and children movie fans.

Oshin 2013 is an excellent remake.Sequel and remake are normally very hard to match its predecessor, especially if the older movie is a very good one. The audience have benchmark (at a very high standard) to compare this movie with.It's original TV serial in 1980's was a big hit, not only in Japan, but at least in Southeast Asia region. It is rated 8.1 of 10 (338 user reviews) on IMDb at the time I am writing this review.Two of the original stars reappear in this movie, Ayako Kobayashi (playing Mino, Kayo's mother, previously was young Oshin in TV serial) and Ms Pinko Izumi (playing Kuni, the old grannie master, previously Oshin's mother in TV serial). A brilliant, yet daring selection which invited the audience to refresh their memory and at the same time directly compare this movie with the original version.Kokone Hamada who played the Oshin in this movie is an awesome young talent.------ The script itself is a dominant factor who contributes to the fame of this movie. It tells a story about a young girl who was forced to become a domestic helper to help her family.The characters were surrounded beautifully with Japanese winter environment, cultural wisdom, and social history. So this is a pretty rich story.The movie-maker once told that Oshin remake is dedicated to the present generation, especially in Japan, who is confronting harsh living and competition and some of Japanese young generation have fallen into stressful life or even suicides. Oshin movie wants to convey the message about survival, family support, hard-work, and promoting better opportunity for young generation, especially for the not-have and the girls.Oshin is said to be inspired by a real life of a successful female entrepreneur in Japan.I don't speak Japanese, and have little knowledge in Japanese movie culture. So I reserve further judgment about the actors' performance.A well-delivered remake. A classic has reborn.

I was prepared to cry or weep and Oshin did jerk my tears. But I think the parting and crying scenes could have been toned down or shortened a little and focused more on Oshin's relationship with her family.The cinematography was stunning. Perhaps the harsh snowy environment is a beauty no matter how you frame it. But the light, the river raft and the smoke from the villages are just poetic. With the huge wood and straw houses it is just a perfect place for country life. Hamada Kokone is perfect in portraying 7-year-old Oshin. Natural and smart. Yet emotional and perceptive. Even her eyes alone convey lots of emotions.This remake of Oshin is essentially a feminist movie. All the female characters, including Oshin, her mom, the rich Grandma etc. are much stronger than their male counter parts. For stronger I mean more assertive, more daring, more reasonable, more creative, wiser, and of course more enduring and resilient. Even the runaway soldier's character is developed along this line: he is one of the oppressed in spite of his talents but he is surviving with dignity – as other strong female in the movie. Perhaps only under this harsh environment can a yamato nasdesko be groomed. Salute to the Japanese women who appear to be weak and submissive but actually very powerful internally.

This is a remake of the classic story where a young girl born into a poor family having to endure extreme hardships in the 1900's.I remember watching every episode of the TV series "Oshin" when I was a child, and I was so touched by it. The 2013 remake continues the tradition, and tells the heart wrenching hardships of a 7 year old girl. The story is very sad, and is almost unbelievable in modern day world. The girl playing Oshin is remarkable, as she cheerfully plays the highly resilient girl. Her range and depth of emotions is quite astonishing, as her character goes through a plethora of emotions including joy, sadness, desperation, anger and shame.Though the pacing is a little slow, it means there is much time for viewers to savour what it is really like to be Oshin. This is a film to feel and empathise. Expect to be saddened.