An (Blu-ray) (Special Edition)(Japan Version) Blu-ray Region A

Its title referring to the sweet bean red paste filling of dorayaki pancakes sold in a small shop run by the gloomy Sentaro (Nagase Masatoshi, The Hidden Blade), who lives a quiet life dwelling on his many troubles. After advertising for an assistant, two very different candidates apply, a young schoolgirl called Wakana (Uchida Kyara, I Wish) and Tokue (Kiki Kirin), an elderly woman with disfigured hands. Although he initially declines to take Tokue on, after he tastes her red bean paste he decides to give her a chance, and his business starts to take off as a result. However, once a tragic secret from her past is revealed, the trio are set on a journey of self-exploration and redemption.

If An sounds clichéd, that's because it is. Whereas in the past Kawase Naomi has been known chiefly for ambiguity and obscurity, often to the point of leaving audiences perplexed or frustrated, here she takes a very different route indeed, the film falling back on well-worn melodrama and stereotypes. Food metaphors and would-be philosophical dialogue are very much the order of the day, with life lessons being laid on thickly throughout. Although there's drama and the film isn't lacking in interest, the characters are so uniformly nice and impossibly wise that it's all quite hard to believe, and the last act revelations come across as melodramatic and weepy rather than deep and meaningful. On top of this, the film is certainly predictable, and given the far more complex and profound nature of Kawase's previous work, some viewers may well be disappointed by its straightforwardness.

This is all perhaps a little harsh and hard hearted, and An is not without its charms, making for pleasant and occasionally charming viewing, albeit with appropriately adjusted expectations. Kawase does retain at least some semblance of her trademark naturalistic, almost documentary style, and the film is visually quite beautiful in a laidback manner, with lots of shots of lovingly prepared food and of the local scenery. She also manages to get good performances from the cast, who make their characters likeable and sympathetic despite their lack of believability – Kiki Kirin in particular impresses in the most nuanced of the three lead roles. As a result, though its sentimentality is cloying, there's no doubt that the film is genuine, and those able to push aside cynicism and go with the flow for its commendably economic than two-hour running time may find themselves suitably moved.

It's ultimately this which will decide whether or not viewers are likely to enjoy An, and though a bit of a lesser offering from Kawase Naomi, there’s enough here to make it a worthwhile watch for anyone open to its simple and well-meaning niceness. Anything Kawase directs is not without interest, and even when offering up something more accessible and middle of the road like this, there's an artistry to her work as always.

by James Mudge - EasternKicks.com