During the vacation, some Kingos might have enjoyed the thrill and excitement of planning overseas trips or domestic trips while others might have spent their time enjoying hobbies or studying something that they could not try during the busy semester. Having the opening of courses ahead, however, Kingos are facing the task of adapting to new environments such as double majoring, going on an exchange student program or taking a semester off. This task is also applied to freshmen who have just completed a semester that they have been adapting to and now need to take classes in new environments. Therefore, the Sungkyun Times (SKT) now introduces a Japanese movie to Kingos, which shows the growth process of a young woman in a new environment and the composure she develops from this situation.
Introduction to the Movie
Form and Features
Little Forest is a movie derived from a Japanese cartoon written by cartoonist Igarashi Daisuke. The cartoon is a healing comic in which the main character returns to her hometown and makes dishes using herbs and vegetables by herself. Unlike blockbusters whose main purpose is gaining box office profits, Little Forest is closer to a documentary. Based on the cartoon, the movie deals with the four seasons of Japan and shows the beautiful appearance of each season. The movie is separated into two versions of Summer and Autumn and Winter and Spring.
Storyline
Ichiko, the main character of Little Forest is a young woman who quit urban life and returned to her hometown, Komori, as if she was being chased by something. Komori is a small forested village in Japan that takes more than an hour to get to from a big city. Ichiko cultivates crops and vegetables and gradually learns about a self-sufficient life. In this process, she gains new perspectives about things that are in touch with her, and gets the opportunity to face herself.
Interesting Points for View
1. Ichiko’s Concerns and Inner Changes about Where She Should Be
• Ichiko, who leaves the city and settles in Komori, realizes that the time has come for her to decide where she wants to live.
• Ichiko, at first, does not know the exact reason she wishes to return to her hometown, but as shestarts rural life, she gradually gets to know it more.
2. Respect for Honest Labor and Warm-hearted Exchanges with Old Neighbors
• Ichiko cultivates almost all the ingredients, including rice. She feels the joy of harvesting while realizing the difficulty of farming.
• In the movie, the residents of Komori usually cooperate to get crops and make hearty meals. Besides, sharing food is natural among neighbors.
3. The Abundance that Natural Ingredients Gives and the Sincerity Needed in One Meal
• The movie shows the attitude of cherishing natural ingredients that can be overlooked in our daily lives. For example, Ichiko uses unknown edible herbs like horsetail as an ingredient of side dishes.
• While watching the movie, people can get detailed recipes and tips on all of the food!
4. Absence of Inversion and Tension, and the Comfort that Fills Them
• Although there is no dramatic element such as inversion and tension, composure can be found in Ichiko’s slowly flowing day.
• Instead of excessive artificial sound, the movie uses the sound of river flow, birds, and cooking. These sounds might calm viewers’ emotions.
There are various genres of movie. Some might prefer thrillers, action, or blockbusters with dramatic elements. If you need composure in your daily life, however, watching Little Forest or this kind of movie will be a great chance for relaxation. The audience does not have to be obsessed with the interpretation of the movie and they just can enjoy the movie as it flows. In 2018, the Korean version of Little Forest will also be released. If you are interested, the SKT recommends watching this movie, too.