The manager of a pancake stall finds himself confronted with an odd but sympathetic elderly woman looking for work. A taste of her homemade bean jelly convinces him to hire her, which starts a relationship that is about much more than just street food. Read more …
Ostensibly, a lovingly made study of homemade cooking and old-fashioned values, this beautifully played drama also contains a mordant denunciation of the lack of compassion that shapes Japanese attitudes to social stigma.
Naomi Kawase’s film about the redemptive, life-affirming powers of a pancake recipe falls flat.
Japanese director Naomi Kawase serves up a subtle study of the relationship between an elderly woman and a young street food vendor.
General release. Check local listings for show times.