Patisserie Coin de Rue Review

Is it French? Is it American? No, it’s a Japanese film directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa that will leave audiences of all ethnicities and backgrounds with a delightful treat and sweet aftertaste that will have you coming back for more.

This is definitely one of the best films Japan has produced and released this year. It follows the story of Natzume (portrayed by Yu Aoi), a small town girl who travels to Tokyo, Japan in search of her sweetheart, and Tomura (Yosuke Eguchi), a brilliant patissier who suddenly and inexplicably left the world of pastry. The worlds of these two characters will collide in dramatic, tense, and at times comedic moments changing their lives forever more.

For most of the film, the focus stays with Natzume as she discovers that the reality of her relationship with the gentleman she has been calling a boyfriend is not what she thought it was. While searching for her sweetheart in the city of Tokyo, Natzume finds work at Patisserie Coin de Rue, a small pastry shop with quite a legendary reputation. It is not until her world comes crumbling down that Natzume decides she will not simply run away but focuses all of her energy in learning the traits of pastry making. Along the way she faces obstacles such as critical reviews about her pastry making skills and herself from others like Mariko (Noriko Eguchi), a patissier who seems to never be in an optimistic mood, and Yoriko, the owner and chef of Patisserie Coin de Rue who is reluctant to hire Natzume. Soon enough, Natzume comes to the self-realization that strength and motivation to continue in her path does not come from others and what others think of her, but from within herself as she grows in her craft.

Chef Tomura holds a dark secret that only few know, and through flashbacks that secret is revealed little by little. Once a famous patissier, Tomura’s secret has consumed him to a point where he has hit rock bottom. Now, he is a critic writer of the pastry world, and teaches part time. Eventually, it takes the strong efforts of Natzume to bring Tomura out of that dark abyss he has fallen into and back to the pleasantries of pastry making.

Director Yoshihiro does a great job in visually telling the story of both lead characters as Tomura seems to be under dim light for most of the film to show his tormented soul while Natzume is naïve and optimistic often surrounded by light. Additionally, the musical score is fantastic in portraying the different personalities of the film’s characters. From somber to cheerful, the music in the film is just as delightful as the different pastries featured.

Pastries are of course the central piece of the film. In fact, one can go as far as to say that just as a pastry can be molded to be the finest and most delectable so can a person grow as an individual to be the best they can be. And just as the pastries are baked from ground up, from scratch, the film’s characters transform themselves and others as their worlds interconnect. The many different types of pastries that are showcased within the film also contribute to the notion that there are so many different ways of viewing and living life; that there are so many different types of people, different ethnicities, different backgrounds, but at the end of the day we are all members of the human race with the same potential to realize the best within us.

Patisserie Coin de Rue is making its world premiere at the 2011 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

SCREENINGS: Tuesday February 1, 4:20pm at Metro 4 Theater II; Saturday February 5,   7:40pm at Metro 4 Theater III.

Watch the trailer at : http://www.coin-de-rue-movie.com/about.html