Sweet Bean (An, 2015) Review – A Healing Story About Life's Scars
The Dorayaki, filled with sweet red bean paste
π₯ Film Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | An (γγ / Sweet Bean) |
| Director | Naomi Kawase |
| Genre | Drama |
| Release | 2015 (Japan) |
| Runtime | 113 minutes |
| Main Cast | Kiki Kirin (Tokue), Nagase Masatoshi (Sentaro), Kyara Uchida (Wakana) |
| Based on | Novel by Durian Sukegawa |
| Language | Japanese |
| Awards | Un Certain Regard nominee (Cannes 2015) |
π Plot Summary
Sentaro (Nagase Masatoshi) runs a small dorayaki shop in Tokyo, living a quiet, detached life weighed down by his past as an ex-convict. His days are mechanical—mixing batter, filling pancakes with store-bought sweet bean paste, serving customers without joy.
Everything changes when Tokue (Kiki Kirin), an elderly woman with gnarled hands, arrives asking for a job. Despite his initial reluctance, Sentaro hires her after tasting the exquisite an (sweet red bean paste) she makes from scratch.
Tokue's handmade an transforms the shop. Customers line up daily, drawn by the warmth and care baked into every dorayaki. But when rumors spread that Tokue was once a Hansen's disease (leprosy) patient, prejudice threatens to destroy the fragile peace they've built.
Through dorayaki, cherry blossoms, and quiet conversations, An explores dignity, discrimination, and the meaning of being alive.
πΈ Key Themes
The Dignity of Existence
Tokue's philosophy centers on a simple truth: "We're not born into this world to become something. Just being alive has meaning." This quiet statement challenges society's obsession with productivity and achievement.
Healing Through Connection
Neither Sentaro nor Tokue can erase their pasts, but through their friendship, they find acceptance. The film suggests that healing doesn't come from forgetting—it comes from being witnessed and valued.
Listening to the World
Tokue teaches Sentaro to listen—to the beans as they cook, to the wind in the trees, to the stories everything wants to tell. This attentiveness becomes a form of prayer, a way of honoring life itself.
Prejudice and Isolation
The film doesn't shy away from Japan's treatment of Hansen's disease patients, who were forcibly isolated for decades. Tokue's past reveals how society discards those it deems "unclean," and how that rejection echoes through generations.
π Personal Reflection
Cherry blossom petals fall gently as Sentaro watches, lost in thought.
Once, this sight meant nothing to him—just another spring, another day. But now, like Tokue's sweet an, it tastes bittersweet. His life used to drift by as meaninglessly as time itself, numb and empty. But now, like the faint scent of cherry blossoms carried on the wind, a subtle warmth seeps in—as if tenderly embracing his wounded past.
We all have those moments, don't we? When something small—something that's always been there but never truly seen—suddenly offers comfort we didn't know we needed.
π¬ What Makes This Film Special
Kiki Kirin's Luminous Performance
Kiki Kirin (1943-2018) delivers one of her most memorable performances as Tokue. Her face, weathered by time and suffering, radiates warmth and quiet strength. Every gesture—the way she stirs beans, the way she looks at the sky—feels lived-in and true.
Naomi Kawase's Poetic Direction
Director Naomi Kawase is known for her contemplative, nature-focused cinema (Still the Water, Suzaku). Here, she uses long takes, natural light, and ambient sound to create a meditative atmosphere. The camera lingers on beans simmering, hands kneading dough, sunlight filtering through leaves.
The Ritual of Making An
The film treats cooking as a sacred act. Tokue doesn't just boil beans—she speaks to them, listens to them, respects their life force. This ritualistic approach transforms the mundane into the meaningful.
Quiet Social Commentary
Without preaching, An exposes Japan's historical mistreatment of Hansen's disease patients. Tokue spent decades in a sanatorium, isolated by law. The film asks: How do we treat those society has cast aside?
The warmly lit exterior of the "Dorayaki"shop.
The warmly lit exterior of the "Dorayaki"shop.
π‘ The Meaning of Dorayaki
In An, dorayaki becomes more than food—it's a metaphor for life itself.
The outer pancakes are sweet and soft, but they need the an to be complete. Similarly, life needs both joy and sorrow, connection and solitude, to have depth. Tokue's an isn't perfect—it's made from imperfect beans, lovingly tended. Just like us.
π― Who Should Watch This Film
✅ Fans of Japanese slow cinema and contemplative storytelling
✅ Anyone seeking films about dignity, compassion, and human connection
✅ Viewers who appreciate nature-focused, meditative cinematography
✅ Those interested in Japanese social issues and history
✅ People who loved Little Forest, Kamome Diner, or Still Walking
π Where to Watch (2025)
Streaming & Availability:
Available for rental on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and other digital platforms. Check Criterion Channel or Japanese film streaming services. Also available on DVD with English subtitles.
π Final Thoughts
An is not a movie you watch for plot twists or dramatic arcs. It's a film you feel—slowly, quietly, like warmth spreading through your chest.
It reminds us that life doesn't have to be grand to matter. A perfectly cooked bean, a kind word, a moment watching cherry blossoms fall—these are enough. These are life.
Tokue leaves Sentaro with a gift: the ability to see beauty again. And in turn, she gives us permission to honor our own existence, scars and all.
In a world that constantly demands we prove our worth, An whispers: You are enough, just as you are. πΈ
π¬ Join the Conversation
Have you watched An (Sweet Bean)?
What did Tokue's philosophy mean to you? Did the film change how you see small, everyday moments?
Share your thoughts in the comments below—I'd love to hear how this quiet story touched you.
π¬ More from Cinematic Sanctuaries
If you enjoyed this gentle journey, explore more healing films:
π Bread of Happiness (2012)
π§ The Chef of South Polar (2009)
Each film offers its own path to peace—just like Tokue's sweet an.
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