Kikujiro

Kikujiro is a Japanese movie from 1999.  It is about a boy who lives with his grandma.  When school lets out he decides to go in search of his mother.  He leaves home and is discovered by a former neighbor.  The neighbor gives instructions to her idle husband to accompany the boy cross country on his journey.

The movie follows the adventures and miss-adventures of the two as they meet and interact with different people on their journey.  The story is lighthearted and deep at the same time.  I found it a very beautiful story and one of my favorite movies.
Takeshi Kitano does a fantastic job in this movie as the adult companion to the boy.