Sweet Bean 2015 is a poignant, understated Japanese drama that tells the story of an unlikely trio. Sentaro, a lonely baker who runs a dorayaki shop in Tokyo, meets Tokue, an elderly woman with gnarled hands and a mouth full of missing teeth. Despite her physical appearance, she has a passion for making sweet bean paste and convinces Sentaro to hire her as his assistant. The two form an unexpected bond as they create delicious treats for their customers. However, rumors about Tokue’s past soon surface and threaten to destroy everything they have built together. Through their struggles and successes, Sweet Bean 2015 highlights the beauty of finding joy in life’s small pleasures and the power of forgiveness.
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Review
Sweet Bean: A Heartwarming Tale of Redemption and Connection
In today’s fast-paced world, we often forget to take a moment and savor the simple pleasures in life. With its powerful message of acceptance and compassion, Sweet Bean reminds us to slow down and appreciate the small things that make life worth living.
Directed by Naomi Kawase and based on the novel An by Durian Sukegawa, Sweet Bean tells the story of a lonely dorayaki shop owner named Sentaro (Masatoshi Nagase), who reluctantly hires an elderly woman named Tokue (Kirin Kiki) to help him make traditional Japanese sweet bean paste.
As they work together, Sentaro begins to learn about Tokue’s past as a leprosy patient, which has left her with physical scars and a lifetime of rejection from society. Despite this, Tokue remains optimistic and passionate about making the perfect sweet bean paste – a skill she learned while living in isolation in a leprosy colony.
The film’s storyline is simple yet effective, as it explores themes of discrimination, redemption, and the power of human connection. Through Sentaro’s journey of self-discovery, he learns to look beyond surface-level judgments and appreciate Tokue for who she is – a kind-hearted woman with a unique talent.
The acting in Sweet Bean is phenomenal across the board. Nagase delivers a subtle yet nuanced performance as Sentaro, capturing his character’s inner turmoil without resorting to overacting. Kiki shines as Tokue, displaying remarkable emotional depth throughout the film.
One standout moment comes during a scene where Tokue passionately describes how much love she puts into making sweet bean paste – “I put my heart into it every time I make it,” she says. “I’m grateful for every day I get to do it.” It’s moments like these that make Sweet Bean such an emotionally resonant film.
The score and cinematography are also noteworthy, capturing the peaceful atmosphere of Sentaro’s shop and the vibrant colors of the sweet bean paste. The film’s soundtrack, composed by David Hadjadj, is a hauntingly beautiful blend of traditional Japanese instruments and modern sounds.
Despite its critical acclaim, Sweet Bean did not receive much attention from mainstream audiences. However, this is not uncommon for indie films that tackle serious themes that don’t fit into traditional Hollywood molds.
Critics praised Kawase for her sensitive handling of such a difficult subject matter. The film won acclaim at several international film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Un Certain Regard prize.
In addition to its critical success, Sweet Bean has also been praised for its representation of leprosy patients. Leprosy has long been stigmatized in Japanese society, which makes Sweet Bean’s message of acceptance all the more important.
Sweet Bean is a powerful reminder that great storytelling doesn’t need flashy special effects or sweeping action scenes to make an impact. Sometimes all it takes is a simple story about two people connecting over something as seemingly trivial as sweet bean paste.
Whether you’re looking for a heartwarming tale of redemption or simply want to slow down and appreciate life’s small pleasures, Sweet Bean is an excellent choice. It may not be a blockbuster hit, but it’s certainly a little gem worth discovering.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 113
- Release : 2015-05-30
- Genre : Drama
- Cast : Kirin Kiki as Tokue, Masatoshi Nagase as Sentarô, Kyara Uchida as Wakana, Miki Mizuno as Wakana’s Mother, Etsuko Ichihara as Yoshiko
- Crew : Carsten Richter as Foley Artist, Naomi Kawase as Screenplay, Naomi Kawase as Director, Naomi Kawase as Associate Producer, Thanassis Karathanos as Co-Producer
- Popularity 8.471
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : $124,518
- Company : Aeon Entertainment, The Asahi Shimbun
- Summary : The master of a dorayaki pastry store hires a 76-year-old woman whose talents attract customers from all over. But she’s hiding a troubling secret. Life’s joys are found in the little details, and no matter what may be weighing you down, everyone loves a good pastry.
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