I saw this at the Reykjavic International Film Festival and felt it was a great film. It's a story about a young woman named Chloe (the talented and beautiful Carla Juri) visiting Japan for work after the loss of her husband. It follows her process to move past his death and allow herself to find love again. It is not dialogue heavy, as there is the issue of communication and language between the two vastly different cultures of Iceland and Japan. However there are many scenes that link together to propel the movie along. You can see Chloe begin to get over her grief and move forward, slowly developing a relationship with Toshi (newcomer/musician Takashi Ueno). It is during their dinner together, eating fresh Wasabi that I see her true transformation begin. Yatsuro, (played by powerhouse Issei Ogata) is the guide that leads her along her way, as well as others, with her quiet transformation. It is a sweet, funny, heart felt film that you will enjoy, particularly with those who have experienced loss. Though it moves slowly, the cinematography, landscapes (particularly the juxtaposition between outdoor Iceland and urban Japan) and the human interaction make it all worthwhile. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
