Where cozy, food-centered romances are concerned, there's just no beating Japan - and with this movie they've proved it once again.
The music and cinematography work together to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort which serves as a perfect backdrop for this gentle slice-of-life tale of two long-time friends' first tentative steps towards shifting their relationship into something more romantic.
The characters are deeply endearing and lovable, their chemistry is so natural and comfortable, and they're both just so plain charming that every second of seeing them on screen is pure joy.
In a story that is as heavily character driven as this one, the connections between the characters have to feel real and grounded and this film absolutely nails it. I'm a complete sucker for realistic depictions of (queer) friendship in general and rarely have I seen them portrayed as perfectly as I have here.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for a tender, wholesome slice-of-life story with lots of good food and friendship, and to any queer folks out there looking for a new comfort watch.
Fair warning - this movie is the first part of a longer story and therefore very light on the explicit romance, so if you're looking for something more romance-heavy, maybe give this one a pass until the next part of the story is released.
Personally though, I really do consider this movie a masterpiece in its own right and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel.
Meanwhile I'll just have to pass the time by recreating some of Aki's recipes :)