Shoplifters

THE GIST: A family of small-time crooks takes in a little girl who ran away from home to spare her from the bitter cold. Slowly, she herself becomes a member of the family, which hardly looks like a traditional one anyway.

Shoplifters is a good movie whose real strength lies in constructing something and then revealing it to be something totally different.

The actors are all excellent, even the two little kids; really impressive work.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I've started watching more movies from Asia and while they display a very different sensibility, they often leave a positive mark. This one is no different. Definitely recommended.

Grade: 8