What is it about?
In a small coastal town, an unhinged ex-prostitute turns to selling bento and comforting the lonely souls who make up her clientele.
A taste of wonder
Based on the manga series Chihirosan by Hiroyuki Yasuda published in 2017-2018 magazine Elegance Eve, Call Me Chihiro is a Japanese drama about loneliness, imbued with sweet sadness. Directed by Rikiya Imaizumi (Playing Sister, Only Love), the film tells the details of the life of a former prostitute, Chihiro (Kasumi Arimura).
He decides to change his life when he accidentally stops in a small seaside town and eats a bento there. This little pleasure, simple yet so powerful, prompts him to settle down in the city and work at a bento shop.
His employer, his colleagues, and his clients are well aware of his past, but that doesn’t stop them from trusting Chihiro. Despite her loneliness and difficulties, Chihiro is a unique being who always keeps a smile on her face and who comforts everyone who crosses her path.
Whether it’s a young high school student fascinated by her, a former prostitute colleague tricked by her pimp, a prankster little boy, a homeless man who doesn’t speak much, or an old blind woman who clings to her memories, Chihiro is always there. There to help others.
Call Me Chihiro is a sequence of meetings, discussions and moments of life, simple and beautiful at the same time, in which Chihiro forever celebrates the existence of lonely souls he meets, intertwined with memories of his youth. Between sadness, sweetness and tragedy, this tender and gentle Japanese film should appeal to the most sensitive.
Call Me Spirited Away is available on Netflix.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
