Veteran filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda became known after winning the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for the crime drama Shoplifters despite having directed films and TV series for nearly three decades. Renowned for his gentle sense of pacing, simple yet beautiful cinematography, and a focus on the complexities of family relationships, he showcased his skills in previous works such as After The Storm (2016), Like Father, Like Son (2013) and Nobody Knows (2004). However, the one that has stuck in my mind to this day is Our Little Sister (2015), a female-focused drama that gave us a cosy, heartwarming family story, along with rich cultural and beautiful vistas of the Japanese countryside.
The new Netflix drama series The Makanai: Cooking For The Maiko House gave me that same feeling of warmth as Our Little Sister. The Makanai is based on an original manga of the same name by Aiko Koyama, with the story following two 16-year-old friends who decide to leave their hometown for Kyoto to chase their dreams. Spearheaded by Kore-eda, this nine-episode series is a beautiful slice-of-life tale that explores both the traditional world of geishas in Kyoto, as well as the joy and comfort of food.
