Naomi Kawase – Filmmaker – An (Sweet red bean paste)
FRED’s Matt Micucci interviews filmmaker Naomi Kawase, who presented her latest work An (Sweet Red Bean Paste) in the Un Certain Regard section of the 68th Cannes Film Festival.
Cannes Film Festival regular Naomi Kawase is also regarded as one of the main female exponents of Japanese cinema in the world. This year, she has perhaps presented her most sentimental and sweetest work to date.
Naomi Kavase talks with us about what it was about the original Tetsuya Akikawa that inspired her to make the movie version. She also shares with us her views on the rhythm of nature and how she believes that nature symbolizes the impact humanity had on history. On top of that, she gives us a little insight in why she believes this type of film is becoming so prominent in Japan, and how much creative freedom she is allowed in her filmmaking projects.
AN (SWEET RED BEAN PASTE): Sentaro runs a small bakery that serves dorayakis – pastries filled with sweet red bean paste (“an”). When an old lady, Tokue, offers to help in the kitchen he reluctantly accepts. But Tokue proves to have magic in her hands when it comes to making “an”.
Thanks to her secret recipe, the little business soon flourishes… And with time, Sentaro and Tokue will open their hearts to reveal old wounds.
An – Sweet Red Bean Paste (2015) (Trailer) (HD) from FILMARTI Film on Vimeo.