Sweet Bean – Film Review by Frank L

Directed by Naomi Kawase
Writers: Durian Sukegawa (based on the novel by), Naomi Kawase (screenplay)
Stars: Kirin Kiki, Masatoshi Nagase, Kyara Uchida

Sentaro (Masatoshi Nagase) is in his mid-years and runs a little lock-up shop in which he makes Dorayaki; a type of a pancake. One is placed on top of the other and a sweet bean paste creates a filling. The film shows Sentaro painstakingly making the pancakes. It is a labour of love. The less than perfect ones are rejected and given away for free. He does not appear to have many customers other than three schoolgirls. However he is looking for an assistant. One day an elderly woman Tokue (Kiri Kirin) comes by and purchases a dorayaki. She does not think much of the sweet bean paste. She persuades Sentaro to employ her to make the paste. There is then a long most beautiful sequence of Tokue making the sweet bean paste. It is sensational. As a result the little shop has, by word of mouth, an around-the-block queue of customers.

Success generates jealousy. The owner of the shop reveals to Sentaro damaging information about Tokue. As the little shop has become successful she wishes to have the glory for herself and her family.  She has no empathy for Sentaro or Tokue. Something positive is brought to an end but there are consequences for Sentaro and Tokue.

The joy of this film lies in the making of the pancakes and the sweet red bean paste. Both would be fairly low in the culinary hierarchy. However for both Sentaro and Tokue there is a great skill in doing the work to perfection. It takes time and there are no short cuts. It is the veneration of the attention to detail by each of them but particularly Tokue in the many steps required, which makes this film enchanting. It is a celebration of skilled albeit humble work. The rest of the film displays the more unattractive sides of human behaviour which makes the simple dignity of the skill and diligence of Sentaro and  Tokue more pure.

It is a gently paced movie. It provides a celebration of manual work perfectly executed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJnLW_tTgAE