The plot may have the loose, humorous feel of an Aki Kaurismaki film - a compliment if there ever was one - but the style of KAMONE DINER is in many ways quite unique.
It is, basically, the story of a Japanese woman who decides to serve coffee and rice balls in Finland - and of the curious characters who walk into her life (and coffee shop). Dialog is in a mixture of Japanese and Finnish, but the visual style rich and vibrant; the use of Fuji film stock (the same type director Ozu used) gives the offers a balanced visual flavor with rich reds. The photography has a lovely sense of composition that makes each shot fascinating. After a while, the story builds a nostalgic sense of warmth and appreciation for cultural niceties - a realization that those small differences can mean a great deal, over time.
While Kaurismaki's plots seem to revolve around alcohol, KAMONE DINER is founded in caffeine and friendship. There aren't any "bad guys" to be found here, only a set of relationships based on small understandings. While one or two plot points may not make perfect sense, the basic illogic of setting a Japanese coffee shop in Finland is just strange enough to give this film an off-beat flavor that can be quite engaging. For many, drinking a bit of coffee might make the story go a little faster; I thought it was just fine the way it was.
It is, basically, the story of a Japanese woman who decides to serve coffee and rice balls in Finland - and of the curious characters who walk into her life (and coffee shop). Dialog is in a mixture of Japanese and Finnish, but the visual style rich and vibrant; the use of Fuji film stock (the same type director Ozu used) gives the offers a balanced visual flavor with rich reds. The photography has a lovely sense of composition that makes each shot fascinating. After a while, the story builds a nostalgic sense of warmth and appreciation for cultural niceties - a realization that those small differences can mean a great deal, over time.
While Kaurismaki's plots seem to revolve around alcohol, KAMONE DINER is founded in caffeine and friendship. There aren't any "bad guys" to be found here, only a set of relationships based on small understandings. While one or two plot points may not make perfect sense, the basic illogic of setting a Japanese coffee shop in Finland is just strange enough to give this film an off-beat flavor that can be quite engaging. For many, drinking a bit of coffee might make the story go a little faster; I thought it was just fine the way it was.