The film ‘The Lid of the Sea’ is one of the selections in the 2015 【Banana Yoshimoto, by the Sea】 Literary Film Festival. It is the latest work by director Keisuke Toyoshima (‘Hanayoi Michi’) and stars Akiko Kikuchi from ‘Midnight Diner: The Movie’.
Akiko Kikuchi underwent specialized shave ice training to portray the owner of an ice shop. (Image provided by Tempearl Sky)
Mari (Akiko Kikuchi) grows tired of urban life in Tokyo and decides to return to her seaside hometown in Nishi-Izu to open a shave ice shop, offering only two options: mandarin orange or homemade 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 her.
The film enlisted the expertise of the owner of a wildly popular Japanese shave ice shop for technical supervision — the shave ice on screen looks absolutely mouthwatering. (Image provided by Tempearl Sky)
The girl, Uchu, bears significant facial scars from a fire, and harbors deep, indelible emotional wounds within. In this shave ice shop filled with both laughter and tears, the two find meaning in life, support each other, and continue searching for their own way of living.
Akiko Kikuchi described acting in this film as feeling like seeing herself completely naked. (Image provided by Tempearl Sky)
Poster for The Lid of the Sea. (Image provided by Tempearl Sky)
Adapted from the bestselling novel ‘The Lid of the Sea’ by popular Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto, the story was inspired by a song by musician Masumi Harada. Originally serialized in a newspaper, the novel marked Yoshimoto’s first collaboration with renowned Japanese woodblock print artist Nagamasa Naka, which also sparked widespread discussion. Set against the backdrop of Nishi-Izu, a seaside place Yoshimoto visits every summer, the story depicts two girls searching for self-identity under the shining sun. The film was also shot in Nishi-Izu, portraying a sweetness even more heartwarming than shave ice. This movie is sure to heal the hearts and minds of urban dwellers once again. The film is set to release on October 16.
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