Inspired by an infamous true story that made headlines in Japan in 1988, this tough yet tender film from writer-director, Hirokazu Koreeda, follows the lives of four children left to fend for themselves by their wayward mother.

Having smuggled her family into a new apartment under the landlord's nose, Keiko puts her 12 year old son Akira in charge of the youngsters and after a brief period of relative family harmony, disappears. Akira manages as best he can, but limited means and the cramped confines of the apartment force this unorthodox family unit to re-shape their narrow existence to suit their physical and emotional needs.

Thanks to the engaging performances by a cast of non-professional child actors and Koreeda's natural style (including structuring the film by season), 'Nobody Knows' effectively couples documentary realism with a lightly poetic, child's eye view of the world. Steering clear of sentimentality, the film gathers an impressive and unstoppable emotional momentum.Yuya Yagira was named Best Actor at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. The film was nominated for the Palm d'Or and was Japan's entry for the Academy Awards.