How can you survive in a small town far from the downtown? Moreover you don't have a parental figures around you, what would you do? However you can find the answer in Little Forest movie. Directed by Junichi Mori and were released into 2 part film, Little Forest : Summer/Autumn & Little Forest : Winter/Spring. The story based on a manga by Daisuke Igarashi.
Synopsis :
Ichiko (Ai Hashimoto) lived in a big city, but goes back her small hometown Komori, located on a mountain in the Tohoku region. She is self-sufficient. Ichiko gains energy living among nature and eating foods she makes from seasonal ingredients.
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| Summer/Autumn - Winter/Spring |
As you can see from the title, each movie set in the different season. It takes almost 1 year for filming Little Forest, since they are take a shots from each season. Below I have pointed 3 things that make Little Forest movie really worth to watch :
One of the benefits living in a country that has 4 seasons is we can eat seasonal foods. Japanese people carefully selected ingredients that are represented in that specific period. In Little Forest, the film begins at Summer which is the season that we will see a lot of fruit grows on trees. Berries jam, chocolate hazelnut butter and tomato sauce-Ichiko made this variant jams and sauces from Summer fruits. Rice planting has also begun in the Summer and will be harvested in the next season.
In wintertime, Ichiko using traditional way to preserving foods while utilizing the cold temperature outside. Besides Ichiko also keeping fern that has been sprinkled with salt in a sealed bucket. Bean soup, Nishime, baked potato, sauteed ferns, all of them are a simple food but would make your stomach hunger. Aside from showing how Ichiko's cooking, the most important thing that we should keep in mind is how Ichiko planting the ingredients. All the process from farm - cook - and eat goes with a great composition, which makes me think that this is about the food philosophy.
2. The ProtagonistIn wintertime, Ichiko using traditional way to preserving foods while utilizing the cold temperature outside. Besides Ichiko also keeping fern that has been sprinkled with salt in a sealed bucket. Bean soup, Nishime, baked potato, sauteed ferns, all of them are a simple food but would make your stomach hunger. Aside from showing how Ichiko's cooking, the most important thing that we should keep in mind is how Ichiko planting the ingredients. All the process from farm - cook - and eat goes with a great composition, which makes me think that this is about the food philosophy.
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| Delicious bento
Now we know why Japanese foods is very healthy. I was impressed by how these foods is served. Starting from the selection of ingredients, the way it cooked, whether it was boiled or fried while I was busy guessing how the taste of each dish. After watching the both films, I'm finding myself really want to try cook this food and start to gardening (forgive my impulse)!
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| Seasonal Ingredients |
Has debuted as an actress since the age of 12, Ai Hashimoto proved her talent in her first movie, Confession-Kokuhaku (2008). My first impression are like "how can this cute little girl acted such a villain?". Despite her character in this movie is different, it tends to be more mature and serious but shows so much effort. Farming isn't an easy work, you have to give all of your heart to the land in order to produce the best energy sources. Precision and persistence is a key, that is what I capture from Ichiko's activity. I refused to comment about her cooking skill since I am bad at cooking though lol.
3. Beautiful Landscape
Mountain areas always has a beautiful scenery, furthermore Komori experience 4 distinct seasons. You will see how the situation of Komori in summer season and the following time it turned into a snow-covered. Let the pictures below talk how beautiful it is.
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| Changes of the trees means the change of seasons |
I can not stand to not to share this beautiful flowers.
Final thoughts
Little Forest is a real illustration of a life in countryside. Though it is like documentary movie about life surviving, but I can not get bored to watch this movie. Ai Hashimoto managed to make the audience feel the struggle of living alone with her actions. Overall this is a simple movie but contains a lot the meaning of life. And last I liked the tagline of this movie Farm, Cook, Eat, to live..
Movie Information
Director : Junichi Mori
Writer : Daisuke Igarashi (manga), Junichi Mori
Producer : Keiichiro Moriya, Satoko Ishida
Genre : Slice of Life, Food, Drama
Cast :
Ai Hashimoto – Ichiko
Takahiro Miura – Yuta
Mayu Matsuoka – Kikko
Karen Kirishima – Fukuko (Ichiko’s mother)
Yoichi Nukumizu – Shigeyuki (Campground keeper)
- Movie Information source by AsianWiki
- All pictures source by snapshot of movie
Rating,
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| 5 |
Xoxo,
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