Call Me Chihiro
2023 · Directed by Rikiya Imaizumi
Original language: Japanese
- drama
The story
An unapologetic former sex worker starts working at a bento stand in a small seaside town, bringing comfort to the lonely souls who come her way.
What it’s like
Soft seaside daylight and unhurried framing give this a calm, sun-warmed feel, with small-town streets, salt air and the steam of a bento stand carrying the mood. The palette stays gentle and natural, the camera lingers on ordinary moments, and the score is sparse, so the quiet of the town does much of the work. The vibe is serene and wistful, with lonely undertones softened by warmth. Its heroine speaks plainly about a past in sex work, and that frankness shapes the tone, but the film is not sexual or graphic, and it contains no violence. Its pace is slow and episodic, built around brief encounters at the counter, where strangers and regulars drift in with their own private ache. The emotional arc follows a guarded woman learning to accept kindness, alongside people who slowly open up in return. It suits a rainy afternoon, a quiet evening alone, or anyone who wants something tender and low-stakes. It is for viewers who enjoy slice-of-life stories about second chances and the comfort of small, patient human connection.
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