Japanese movie wins top prize at Cannes

May 20 (NHK) - Japanese Director Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Shoplifters" has won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

At the 71st edition of Cannes, Kore-eda's work was one of 2 films by Japanese directors in competition for the Palme d'Or. The other one was "Asako I & II" directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

On the last day on Saturday the head of the jury, Actress Cate Blanchett, announced Kore-eda's victory.

It was Kore-eda's 5th time to be in competition for the Palme d'Or and his first in 3 years. In 2013, his "Like Father, Like Son" won the jury prize.

"Shoplifters" is about family ties. It's a story of a Tokyo family that lives on the pension benefits of one of its members. They shoplift when they are really hard up.

The last Japanese film to win the top honor at the festival was 21 years ago -- director Shohei Imamura snatched the Palme d'Or in 1997 for his film "The Eel."

Cannes is one of the 3 most prestigious film festivals in the world, the other two being Berlin and Venice.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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