Little Forest: Winter/Spring

This movie is the sequel to, or in any case should be watched after, Little Forest: Summer/Autumn (2014).

The format is much the same--life in a tiny hamlet in Iwate prefecture in northern Japan, how one manages there, how one can gather what is in the area, or prepare and preserve vegetables in advance (or fail to do so, as the main character, Ichiko, does at least once), and live a life that is poor in many conventional ways...I think this is the only movie set in modern-day Japan in which I have not seen a cellphone, or even, except very briefly, a TV...but astoundingly rich in other ways.

Nonetheless, Ichiko starts to wonder about her proper place in the world, and comes to realize what the astute viewer knew already by the end of the first reel, "Summer/Autumn", which is that she is missing something fundamental in her life. She suddenly sets out to correct this. Not many details are provided; the viewer is left to infer things.

The ending of the film is wonderful in a completely different and unexpected way, taking the viewer unawares.

A beautiful film, but not necessarily one that urban Westerners may appreciate. IAC if you didn't like "Summer/Autumn", there's no reason to watch this.

This is actually 2 films and the second part (Winter/Spring) is my favourite.

Most definitely one of my most loved films ever, I expect quite a few people will not get it and indeed I am shocked how little attention it has garnered.

It continues to haunt me now, weeks after, and after several viewings, it created such a slow burning set of emotions that even now I feel a lump in my chest when I think about... Just wonderful.

I am becoming a kind of disciple maybe, torn between trying to get as many people to see it and yet also fearing that most people may not get it, maybe I am in such a place right now that is resonates for me, while for others it just falls flat.

Don't watch if you need action and violence and sex, or a definite story with neatly tied up conclusions, though I found the ending satisfying and was enchanted by the traditional dancing.

What more is there to say, that would not needs hours or acres of screen space?

Using this kind of space and patience to spread out a beautiful life, one can feel a slight pain naturally from being down-to-earth. When I was younger, I didn't understand why there was such a great demand for healing works. Later on, it gradually became clear that people would naturally suffer harm simply by living in society and simply surviving. The most basic and simple thing is to become extravagant or even impossible. When I was young, happiness was simple, but when I grow up, it becomes a very happy thing. She works so hard farming just to eat like this every day? "" Yes, isn't life like this.

The second part of the manga based film, 'Little Forest'. One of the best duologies and one of the best food films I've ever seen. Literally, it was a four part film series with the seasonal topics like summer, autumn, winter and spring, but you would see it is like two episodes from each film which opens with the same intro. Which briefs about the place where it set in, and then go straight to its business.

Basically, you can call this a mini-series, that's how in the west they call such film concepts. There's already a Korean version is in the making, due in the mid 2018. It was simply outstanding as the previous one. And one should watch them both continuously as the opening statement says for your better understanding.

Winter, what do you think the farmers would do in this season. I really don't know. I haven't come from such place. All I think is skiing, building a snowman or slippery roads. That's why this film impressed me. Something letting us know what we never knew. Ichiko had her own plan. I guess most of her counterparts in the Japan would do the similar task to counter the harsh weather. That the art of preserving the fruits and vegetables, as well as making the seasonal dishes using them.

Not everything is just the indoor activities, but utilising the outdoor gifts like the snows to preserve the precious ingredients and growing vegetations are admirable. Cultural significance, like gathering and sharing their produce/harvest, totally give another glimpse of how the Japanese do. On that aspect, this film quite stays away from Ichiko in a few sections. The other characters take over for a brief. That remains a bit mystery. The film never went deep digging her personal life, particularly what happened between her and her mother. So it never cared to say further as the narration proceeded towards the end.

❝I'm pretty lenient when it comes to cabbage white butterflies. But I show no mercy to caterpillars.❞

Spring, you can call the season for rebirth of all plantation. The white visuals would be replaced by the green everywhere. Not just the plants, but also the zoological lives like butterflied et al thriving. There's one problem with that despite they are considered beautiful, those are pest according to the farmers. Ichiko reveals her own experience with her mother when she was a kid. But when it comes to her in the same position as her mother, what is her counter measure can be observed.

As for the food theme, it was a complete satisfactory film. But the story, the personal life of Ichiko was not explained well. I believe the original source could be well detailed, particularly about her mother. I always wondered about her mother, being an average mother, but an excellent cook who really inspired Inchiko to follow the same path. Remembering from her childhood and trying to recreate the same dish with the taste, in some cases, experimenting with the new ingredients, once again you will be mouthwatering.

I loved both the film, and I wished for another installment. Gosh, why do it has to be only two films. It was a great direction. It was beautifully written for the screen and the locations, mind blowing. All the four seasons very pleasing to see on the screen. From the hot summer to autumn, cold winter and the spring. One year cycle of the seasons, as well as how the humans adapted to cope with the changes in the nature was well picturised. Beside the sub-topics, other than the film's notion were nicely placed in the parts of the narrative.

I've said almost everything about the film(s) in the previous review. Because I did not expect anything different in this part. Just the same flow, but different season and dishes. Also the farming, according the seasons was the highlight of the film. The performance was great, though, as I said it all looked like a documentary film of the real lifestyle in the countryside.

I haven't seen many documentaries about the Japan, so that's one the reasons why I overjoyed it. I know a couple of people who love cooking and they are indeed good at it, despite that's not their profession. I'm thinking to gift them this Blu-ray. You might have seen many food flicks, but this is different and a must see. So don't miss it!

9/10