GREAT CINEMAMASTER LIST
Menu

The Essential 713, made interactive

Find your next
great film.

Search 713 spoiler-free recommendations from 1916 to 2026. Filter by the night you want—not the list you’re supposed to finish.

Direct film viewShowing master rank #247 on its own—not above the ranking.
Refine this collection

Your canon

Back up / restore my film dataLoading your progress…Saved only in this browser
Artwork
DirectorAll directors

Most represented · 6+ films

More recurring directors · 3–5 films54
All directors · surname A–Z438
ActorAll actors

Most represented actors

Big Three membership
Major award winners

1 selected film

Master Rank balances Greatness, Engagement, and Ease. Sort by Greatness for the artistic-canon view.

Director:
Cast:
View Monster film page
Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

A mother questions what is happening at her son’s school after his behavior suddenly changes.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

After fifth-grader Minato's behavior changes, his mother Saori confronts teacher Hori and the school administration. The same weeks are revisited from different viewpoints, gradually bringing Minato's friendship with classmate Yori into clearer focus.

Why it belongs

Hirokazu Kore-eda employs changing viewpoints to dismantle accusation and reveal children's private emotional world with patience and formal grace.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Repeated incidents, school corridors, a brass-band room, storm weather, and Sakamoto's spare final score change meaning as perspective shifts—Sakura Ando, Eita Nagayama, and the child actors keep misunderstanding rooted in partial care.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Cannes1 win2023 · official festival record ↗
Award for Best Screenplay2023 · Yuji SAKAMOTOofficial festival record ↗

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Good for
Date NightFilm Club
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

Institutional reference ranks

Sight & Sound—IMDb Top 250—AFI 100—
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score

Great Cinema Master List scores

Greatness8.8
Engagement9.1
Ease8.5

Japanese · PG-13
Narrative Feature
Mood: Tender & Layered