Text / Edited and reported by the MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Team

New movie recommendations for this week starting June 20th!*

*Miss Wheat* is a heartwarming and touching story centered around "parental love," meticulously crafted over eight years by independent filmmaker Keisuke Yoshida. The film delicately portrays the emotional journey of the heroine, Miss Wheat, from indifference to gratitude toward her mother who abandoned her children. The story takes the audience along with Miss Wheat on her journey home, reminiscing about the little moments of her mother’s life. Keisuke Yoshida, active in major Asian independent film festivals and award circuits, has directed well-received indie films such as *Café Lumière*, *Miss Yakumo and Her Big Mouth*, and *The Tale of a Mistress*. Later, thanks to the box office and critical success of *Miss Wheat*, he got the opportunity to direct the film adaptation of the popular Japanese manga *Silver Spoon*. Just as production on *Miss Wheat* began after years of preparation, the director’s mother passed away due to illness. He said: “I want to dedicate this film to all mothers in the world. I hope everyone will call their mother after watching the movie and not leave any regrets!”

Miss Wheat and her brother Kenzo (played by Ryuhei Matsuda) were abandoned by their mother when they were young—in her eyes, she was the worst mother in the world. However, through reflecting on their mother Ayako’s dreams, youth, struggles, the broken alarm clock left at their Tokyo home, and the song *Red Sweet Peas* that she used to hum when Miss Wheat was little… piece by piece, a full and true image of their mother is slowly formed. Getting to know her mother anew allows Miss Wheat to gradually let go of her resentment, and even find the strength to face reality and rediscover herself.

Miss Wheat