The Movie: Kampai! Sake Sisters
The Director: Mirai Konishi
The Cast: Miho Imada, Rebekah Wilson-Lye and Marie Chiba
The Story: Once forbidden to set foot into sake breweries, today women are the ones driving the most exciting changes within the sake industry in Japan. This documentary delves into the passionate lives of three pioneering women.
The Review:
This is a super fun documentary especially if you are a fan of sake. The film makers follow three women in Japan who are making an impact on the entire Japanese sake industry in their own unique ways. The stories are interwoven and told in a way that helps to educate the viewer not only on the subjects but on sake and the industry as well. There is a lot to know when it comes to what is my personal favorite type of alcohol and it was great to see a lot of the history and traditions being shown right along with the trends and innovations of today.
Miho Imada is a master brewer who broke down barriers and opened doors in an industry that had traditionally not allowed women to even walk through the doors of a brewery let alone own one. Marie Chiba owns a sake bar and taught herself everything she could about sake and has become one of the country's most respected sommeliers. Rebekah Wilson-Lye, a native New Zealander quickly rose through the ranks of sake experts thanks to her uncanny abilities to recognize and dissect the nuances and flavors of sake.
While watching the movie, I was also on my laptop searching out the bars and breweries and festivals in hopes of one day visiting them all if I am ever fortunate enough to return to Japan. Marie Chiba's bar seems like a wonderful place to have a meal which Chiba herself often serves omakase style with culinary creations paired with on the spot sake recommendations while you're eating. She seems like such a fun person to interact with because of her passion for sake and for sharing all of her knowledge with whoever walks through her door.
Kampai! Sake Sisters is an inspiration in film making as it shows just how much of an influence and impact women can have when they are allowed to fully express themselves in an industry they care so much about.
Kampai! Sake Sisters is an official selection of the 2019 Hawaii International Film Festival.
To keep track of all my reviews and festival coverage please go to: TwoOhSix at HIFF 2019.
Check out the brand new TwoOhSix.com Podcast!
No comments:
Post a Comment