You are here:

Lying to Mom

Name: Lying to Mom
Director: Katsumi Nojiri
Released: 2018
Duration: 133 min

Representation Score

4.0/10

Fair

2018

Director

Katsumi Nojiri

Runtime

133 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Lying to Mom is a character-driven film focusing on grief and cognitive disassociation. It delves into the breakdown of memory and the fragile bond between a mother and her child after a tragic event. The film operates within a traditional domestic setting, using elements of memory loss to disrupt a linear tragedy. However, it lacks the multi-layered complexity and broader social critiques necessary for a higher score. Ultimately, the narrative emphasizes individual psychological experiences rather than challenging larger social structures or diverse identities.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Lying to Mom have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film centers on the relationship between a mother and her son, with no characters or narratives addressing LGBTQ+ identities.

How does Lying to Mom portray gender?

Fair

A female protagonist deals with deep psychological trauma, but her role aligns with traditional domestic stereotypes, such as a caring mother and a dependent child.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Lying to Mom?

Limited

The story seems set in a homogenous Japanese context, with the cast and narrative reflecting a lack of multicultural representation.

How does Lying to Mom represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film examines the hikikomori lifestyle, offering a critique of societal productivity pressures and exploring themes of subjective reality and memory instability.

Does Lying to Mom include disability representation?

Fair

The film touches on neurodivergence through its portrayal of a hikikomori protagonist, but it’s unclear whether this condition is explored with depth or used merely as a plot device.

Present on Screen

The film offers a nuanced look at psychological fragility and the impact of sudden loss.
It subtly critiques societal expectations around productivity through the hikikomori lifestyle.

Limited or Absent

The narrative adheres to traditional domestic roles without challenging gender hierarchies.
The film lacks multi-layered complexity and does not address broader social or systemic issues.
The social environment is homogenous, lacking racial or ethnic diversity.

Official Synopsis

Suzuki Koichi, a 30-something hikikomori shut-in, allows his mother to dotingly tend to his needs. When she discovers that Koichi has killed himself, the shock is so great she loses consciousness and her memory of that day.

How are these scores produced? →