Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2013

This film is based upon a much-heralded autobiographical novel by Kappa Senoh that was published in 1999. As such Shonen H has a very personal, emotional and at times, cloying feel to it. Despite this, the anti-war and humanist take on Japanese history makes the work watchable and important. It’s the 1930s and the Senoh family is just like any other prosperous, middle class Japanese household. Father Morio (Yutaka Mizutani) is a tailor with loving wife Toshiko (Ran Ito) and two young children, daughter Yoshiko (Yurine Hanada) and son Hajime (Tatsuki Yoshioka), who becomes known as H when his father sows the letter on his sweater. But the Senohs do have one difference from other Japanese—they are Christians. When the fascist and nationalist forces rise in the country, the family’s religion becomes their undoing. The film thoroughly depicts the arbitrary brutality and prejudice they face, as well as the horrific consequences the war has on Japan. A worthy adaptation of a valuable book. (122 min)