The film ‘The Lid of the Sea’ (2015) is one of the selections in the [Yoshimoto Banana, By the Sea] Literary Film Festival. It is the latest work by director Keisuke Toyoshima (‘Hanayoi Michi’) and stars Aoi Yoshikawa from ‘Midnight Diner: The Movie’.

Mari (played by Aoi Yoshikawa) grows tired of urban life in Tokyo and decides to return to her seaside hometown in Nishi-Izu to open a shaved ice shop. The shop will only offer two choices: mandarin orange or handcrafted molasses. She begins searching for the perfect location, personally painting the walls, and selecting her favorite furniture. Just as she’s swamped with work, a mysterious teenage girl comes to live with them.

The girl, Kobato, bears a prominent facial scar from a fire, and harbors deep, indelible emotional wounds within. In this shaved ice shop filled with laughter and tears, the two find meaning in life, support each other, and continue searching for their own way of living.

Adapted from the bestselling novel ‘The Lid of the Sea’ by popular Japanese author Yoshimoto Banana, the story was inspired by a song by musician Masumi Harada. The original novel was serialized in a newspaper, and it also sparked discussion as Banana collaborated for the first time with renowned Japanese woodblock print artist Nagamasa Naka. Set against the backdrop of Nishi-Izu, a seaside town Banana visits every summer, the story depicts two girls searching for themselves under the shining sun. The film was also shot in Nishi-Izu, capturing a sweetness even more heartwarming than shaved ice. It is sure to heal the hearts and minds of city dwellers once again. The film is released on October 16.
 

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