Hana's Miso Soup

(HANACHAN NO MISOSHIRU)

by Akune Tomoaki

Japan

Director: Akune Tomoaki

Screenplay: Akune Tomoaki,
after novel and personal diary of Chie, Hanna & Shingo Yasutake

Cinematographer: Terada Rokuro

Cast: Hirosue Ryokô,
Takitô Kenichi,
Akamatsu Emina,
Hitoto Yo

Production: Horio Seiya

Year: 2015

DCP, Color, 118 min, OV Japanese with English and French electronic subtitles

European Premiere

Chie, a young girl out of college, is diagnosed with cancer soon after becoming engaged. Undeterred, and with an understanding that the cancer treatment will leave her unable to bear children, her marriage begins on a bitter note. Out of the blue a miracle happens and Chie discovers she is pregnant. But her decision to keep the body comes with a high risk for cancer to return. After consulting with a country doctor, she adopts lifestyle changes switching her diet to traditional Japanese foods to keep her body healthy. Knowing that her time with her daughter will be short, Chie caringly passes along lessons learned to prepare her daughter for life without her.

Based upon real-life Chie Yasutake’s memoirs about dealing with her breast cancer, Hana’s Miso Soup is an ode to life. A movie with plenty of humor and love, which tells us to enjoy every single second spent on earth – and also teaches us how to prepare a perfect miso soup.