X
- 2016
- Not Rated
- Kino Lorber
- 1 h 53 m
- 2016
- Not Rated
- Kino Lorber
- 1 h 53 m
Summary Sweet Bean is a delicious red bean paste, the sweet heart of the dorayaki pancakes that Sentaro (Masatoshi Nagase) sells from his little bakery to a small but loyal clientele. Absorbed in sad memories and distant thoughts, Sentaro cooks with skill but without enthusiasm. When seventy-six-year-old Tokue (Kirin Kiki) responds to his ad for...
Directed By: Naomi Kawase
Written By: Durian Sukegawa, Naomi Kawase
- 2016
- Not Rated
- Kino Lorber
- 1 h 53 m
- 2016
- Not Rated
- Kino Lorber
- 1 h 53 m
Sweet Bean
60
7.8
Where to Watch
Summary Sweet Bean is a delicious red bean paste, the sweet heart of the dorayaki pancakes that Sentaro (Masatoshi Nagase) sells from his little bakery to a small but loyal clientele. Absorbed in sad memories and distant thoughts, Sentaro cooks with skill but without enthusiasm. When seventy-six-year-old Tokue (Kirin Kiki) responds to his ad for...
Directed By: Naomi Kawase
Written By: Durian Sukegawa, Naomi Kawase
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
60
38% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
63% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
60
38% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
63% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
It’s a delicate little fable that creeps up on you. It seems slight at first, but it’s held together by a performance from the veteran actress Kirin Kiki, playing an older lady who makes supernal dorayakis, that cuts very deep.
At first the stakes are as light yet rich as Sentaro's pancakes; then come marvelous cine-essays on bean-soaking and paste-prepping, plus — in the film's tragedy-tinged final third — a change-of-seasons montage for the ages.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 13 User Ratings
7.8
92% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
8% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 13 User Ratings
7.8
92% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
8% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
I really liked this film. I believe its based on a short story I've actually read a year or two back, although when I first came across it, I hadn't realised that but I recognised aspects of the plot. Its very meditative in tone and I admit watching the bean paste and doarayaki's be prepared, I did feel rather hungry! it looked and sounded lovely, much as I suppose I pictured when reading the book. Its a slow paced film but its all the better for it, in my opnion. Its quite thoughtful and it (if partially) covers the theme of prejudice - prejudice and assumptions, as well as opening up and perhaps forgiveness. I'd say this is an example of a piece of slow TV of sorts, with (of course) a culinary/baking theme, although there is a fair bit of dialogue but its not at all hard going to watch. I also enjoyed the light, tinkly music played in the background of some scenes. There are also some lovely instances of cinematography, with sound pretty surroundings shown. I liked looking at the cherry blossom, which (of course) Japan is famous for.
The characters are mostly good people and I really appreciated that. Its reflective, touching and thought provoking. If it makes you think of older generations and question things then thats a great thing. I realise it may be a little slow for some but I personally loved it and so I would happily recommend it to others, particularly those who are keen on world cinema, Japanese world cinema (non-martial arts related, of course) and to those who have enjoyed the book its based on.
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A breath of fresh air, and a little breaking of the heart - this film touched me like no other has done in a very long time. Watch it later in the evening, when you're a little drowsy, and a little hungry. It's a visceral and multi-sensorial experience - you can almost smell and taste what you see - without everything becoming too overwhelming. The characters are utterly charming and their growths are subtle but direct, and while the film is a little bit more towards the slow side, it doesn't beat around the bush. One point off for some scenes lingering for too long, but overall, a wonderful experience. Would definitely see again.
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Its sentimentality is tempered by the elegant restraint of the fine lead performances.
Just as An itself seems on the verge of flying away, however, Kawase rewards her audience with an unapologetically contrived but effectively eye-moistening surge of feeling.
What makes this film more potentially enticing to Westerners than the seven films that preceded it? Two words: food porn.
Unfortunately, it proves to be as disposable as the snack it revolves around.
The film has an impeccable technical finish, but it is insipid, contrived, solemn, and ever so slightly preposterous.
Encountering an unexpected and its impacts forever.
The Japanese foods considered as the healthiest food in the world. Yes, it's a food and restaurant related theme, and those who loves them should give it a try. It was another film like 'Midnight Diner' that I saw a couple of months back, which focused on a small eatery as this one. What fascinated me was its simple storyline and the realistic approach. It was based on the novel of the same name of the original Japanese title 'An' which translated as 'Bean Paste'. It is not just a food film, but well explored relationship of the people from different generations. This is quite common I found in the Japanese films, yet very distinct from other similar ones.
There were three characters in the films that kind of represents past, present and future. Where they all learn some important lessons from each others. I don't know that was intentionally done, but that is how I saw it. The most of the story's perspective was from the middle aged man, Sentaro who runs a small dorayaki shop which regularly visited by the students of the nearby school and the locals. His story is kind of depressing. Not the film, just what he went through in his life and after that his life remained quite a low without an alternative. Though, there were no flashbacks, but just revealed by orally when the right time comes.
One day a very old woman named Tokue comes asking for a job after seeing the signboard outside the shop and somehow she manages to grab it. Later she teaches him to make his own bean paste. This is the part I like very much, because it might have not revealed fully how to make a bean paste, but definitely you would feel you want to taste it right away when you see the beautifully prepared paste filled in the tray. So I won't be surprised if you visit a Japanese restaurant just to make your first taste of dorayaki or whenever you visit there, remember this film and ask for it.
"It's like a first date, the young couple needs to get friendly."
So with such a development, the film takes a leap to the next stage of the story. Where the shop sees the rise in customer influx and by its success, Tokue offered to stay and help further. On the other side a middle school girl, Wakana who has not decided about her future, whether to attend the high school or get a job in Takue's shop which obviously went to the old woman. In the meantime, all the three develop a close relationship to each other in the short time. Despite from the different social group, but the strong connection with the shop. But one day as the gossip spreading like a wildfire all over the town about the shop, followed by a couple of unexpected events, the story nears to its end part with an emotional episode.
The most of the film looked like a poetry. The director, who also wrote the screenplay did an awesome job. The cast's performances were outstanding. I have seen them all in different films, even though I did not recognise them at first. I think it is the actors and the wonderful cinematography that made this film looks better than its story. People put their recipe in a book and publish them or make the videos and release online, but I think this kind of film is definitely would make lot impact on, even for the non-food lovers to have a close look which would generate a serious desire and hunger. Just like 'The Ramen Girl', but not as good as this one. A film that preserves a precious dish digitally and makes reach corners of the world.
By now you know that I loved it, but there's something I did not like from it which is the third act. Actually, that final act was a bit drag. Compared to the earlier sections, those last 20 or so minutes were quite an unnecessary stretch. I am an easy prey to sentimental scenes, but for this film I did not feel a thing. Other than that, how it all ended pretty neatly wrapped which I applaud loudly.
Whatever I said all the good and bad stuffs about it, there are some other topics as well in it which came as a side message, but that overtook everything on the final stage and ended as it was the centre of the story like that about treating an older person with disability. I had said many times before in my earlier reviews that I easily fall for seeing the old people suffering which happened in this. So heartbreaking. Except a very few defects that affected me which might won't make a big deal for others, I recommend the film, especially for the drama fans and food lovers.
8/10
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What makes Sweet Bean what it is right now is that it's loving script and actors try to help save the movie, nonetheless it does get tiring after a few minutes of movie time. Embarrassing for me to say, but Sweet Bean might be worth a little of my precision time.
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Production Company
Aeon Entertainment,
Asahi Shimbun,
Comme des Cinémas,
Elephant House,
Hakuhodo,
Kumie,
Mam,
Nagoya Broadcasting Network (Nagoya TV),
Poplar Publishing,
Twenty Twenty Vision Filmproduktion GmbH,
ZDF/Arte
Release Date Mar 18, 2016
Duration 1 h 53 m
Rating Not Rated
Genres
Tagline A Sweet Taste Of Life.
Awards
Haifa International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Valladolid International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
São Paulo International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
