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Synopsis

Directed by Isao Takahata and released in 1981, this film adapts Etsumi Haruki's well-known manga about ten-year-old Chie, a girl labeled as extremely unlucky, who takes charge of her family's small diner amid her parents' separation. Her father, an unemployed yakuza, and her distant mother leave Chie to shoulder household responsibilities, yet the narrative treats these hardships with a comedic, lively tone rather than bleakness. The setting in Osaka provides a distinct regional backdrop and cultural flavor that contrasts with Tokyo. Following the movie's favorable reception, the property was expanded into a television series with Takahata serving as chief director.