Sweet Bean: a revisit to KAWASE Naomi’s superbly delicate drama generally reinforces the initial impressions. The film explores a trio of characters: a middle-aged man who runs a dorayaki store in a serene corner of Japan; an elderly lady who declares her intention to work there; and a high school-aged girl who is a regular customer. The film is profoundly humane in the way it handles each character’s issues and the way they interact with each other to alleviate those. KIKI Kirin plays the irrepressible, sweet, and wise elderly lady who is incredibly solar despite everything. NAGASE Masatoshi, as the store manager, gives a great, delicate performance, quietly displaying his pain and brokenness. UCHIDA Kyara is lovely as the high-schooler. The images of director of photography AKIYAMA Shigeki, bathed in soft light, give a perfect sense of peace to the proceedings.

Read what I wrote before: Sweet Bean