THE absence of a congratulatory call or message for Cannes Palme d’Or-winner Hirokazu Kore-eda from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has fueled speculation that the themes of social exclusion in “Shoplifters” have angered the conservative leader.

The film, which took the top prize at Cannes Film Festival last month, is about a misfit family of petty criminals and shines a light on the rarely examined issue of poverty in Japan.

On the Monday after the Cannes victory, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga offered “heartfelt congratulations” to Kore-eda after being questioned about it at a government press briefing.

Japan’s leaders are usually keen to tout international recognition of its citizens and the government announced Friday that Abe had decided two-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu would receive a prestigious People’s Honor Award.

The prime minister personally congratulated Hanyu after his victory at the PyeongChang Winter Games earlier this year.

Abe also issued an official congratulation in October last year to Kazuo Ishiguro, the Japan-born British author, for his Nobel Prize in Literature triumph, despite the fact that Ishiguro grew up in the United Kingdom, writes in English and speaks little Japanese.

“Shoplifters” will be released in Japan this Friday.

(SD-Agencies)