Will Keyes Byrne

"Shoplifters" is a really engaging and thought provoking film. It is a sort of Japanese retelling of Oliver Twist. There is an Artful Dodger, a Fagin, there is even a Bill Sykes but he is only heard off camera and Oliver is a 5yo girl. It is not merely a retelling of Oliver Twist it is about how love blossoms between people in many unexpected ways - love in the broadest sense, not merely the romantic variety although there is some of that in "Shoplifters" too. There is love for an elderly lady who is unrelated to any of the characters but is referred to as "Grandma" by them all. One of the most touching scenes in the movie is the sea side scene where she whispers thanks to them all, unbeknownst to them, for the love they brought to the twilight of her life. "Shoplifters" is one of the most engaging, thoughtful and intelligent movies of the year, I do hope it wins the best foreign film Oscar - it richly deserves it. WKB