An apt way to describe Yusuke Ishide‘s “The Bento on a Hot Summer’s Day” is that it’s akin to a documentary. Despite being a work of fiction, it is presented to the audience as following the daily routine of a real family, while offering insight into their relationships with one another as the summer weather begins to set in. With that, the home-packed meal, a bento box, serves as a thematic crux.
The Bento on a Hot Summer’s Day is screening at Busan International Short Film Festival (BISFF)
In late Showa-era Japan, located within a unit in a housing complex during the early summer, viewers are introduced to a family of four: a mother, a father, and two little girls. That morning, the eldest daughter, Yuuna, is encouraged by her mother to help prepare a bento box lunch for the first time and proceeds to do so with assistance. When breakfast commences, the mom requests a favor from her husband, who declines due to being caught up in work. The conversation escalates into a discussion over finances for the children’s future, and their conflicting mindsets ignite a heated argument. When the dad storms out to head to his job, Yuuna notices that he has left his bento box behind and takes action.
For all the wholesome moments here, “The Bento on a Hot Summer’s Day” is also an honest slice-of-life story. Yusuke Ishide achieves a great juxtaposition by showcasing tender moments while still counterbalancing them with more brutal truths. Yuuna, Naho, and their parents seem generally comfortable in their living situation. Yet, the apartment is still quite small, with the kitchen being the most spacious area. Both parents are employed, yet their conflicting mindsets lead to frequent arguments which are exacerbated by the pressures of the economic climate. The drawings and photos in the unit suggest a perfect family life. Yet, there is clear friction, particularly with the implication that the father, being a full-time salaryman, is often out of the picture, leaving the mother to raise the kids primarily on her own. Seeing all of this primarily from the perspective of the oldest child, Yuuna, allows the emotions to settle in more deeply as viewers witness the positive and negative effects these have on someone who is still new to life.
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This would be a good opportunity to discuss the significance of the bento box. On the surface, the scene of Yuuna preparing this meal for the first time alongside her mom is a sweet moment. Yet, there is a surprisingly deeper meaning behind it. For this child, food preparation proves to be something she not only enjoys but also views as an achievement, as evidenced by the noticeable satisfaction when it is completed. Additionally, when her father accidentally leaves it behind, she is determined to deliver it to him before he departs to work, a sequence that operates like another responsibility in her life. It’s easy to see that gesture as merely not wanting the lunch to go to waste, yet it can also be viewed as both a loving gesture and an attempt to ease the friction from the argument the parents had earlier.
The four actors are convincing, making them feel like a real family. Yuuna Kakee, who plays the eldest child, Yuuna, does a good job as a kid trying to make the best of her family situation. She is also a believable big sister to Naho, portrayed by Naho Kakee, which likely stems from the fact the two are actually siblings in real life. For the parents, Youko Masuda and Takeshi Marushima are impressive as a strained married couple trying to look out for their kids.
The production side of this short is truly impressive, with a great deal of attention to detail. For one, it looks like it is set in the late Showa era of Japan, right down to the clothing and on-screen technology. Then there’s how it’s shot. Akira Rachi’s cinematography is packed with marvelous compositions, sometimes evoking a visually reminiscent feel of the films of Yasujiro Ozu and the early work of Hirokazu Koreeda. The artistic decision to shoot on 16mm film adds an extra retro feel to the production. It helps that the camerawork is complemented by Ishide’s editing, which allows for a smooth flow.
Yusuke Ishide presents what should be a simple little story and makes it more meaningful. “The Bento on a Hot Summer’s Day” is wholesome, yet its sharp edge in depicting complicated family dynamics during an evolving economy gives it additional appeal. Viewers will be moved and thinking about what it has to say thematically.
