461 Lunch Boxes

A moving account of a father-daughter relationship following separation, in which every bento box prepared with love and care by that father represents his love and dedication. While the premise of the film is certainly moving, its execution often feels overly sentimental and repetitive, making the narrative drag. It could be that the charm is in the focal points of everyday routine and food-every meal memorably accounted for-but it is rather thin material to retain interest that searches for a more dynamic plot. Even with the pacing problems, the father's warmth in caring for his daughter does shine through, and, though rather uneven, it proves to be a touching exploration of family and devotion.