My Rating: 3.92/4 (aka Must see)

One line summary: A French father in Tokyo seeks to find his daughter.

The Deets: We were lucky to catch this beautiful, warm, bittersweet film on the big screen as part of a local French movie festival. I have been watching Romain Duris for more than 20 years, since I first saw him in “L’auberge Espagnole,” one of my favorite movies of all time. In that one he was a French guy exploring the world while moving to Barcelona for a year. In this one, he’s aged and worn, driving a taxi around Tokyo in search of his daughter, who has been taken by his ex-wife even though they had not officially divorced. So much complication here, and so much pain below the surface, treated tenderly and with only a few explosions of rage. I don’t want to ruin any moments here because some real magic happens; and as the father of a daughter, it was especially hard and magical in the same breath.

Perfect for: Anyone who loves a good, pensive family drama. And definitely if you love to watch Romain Duris at work.

Where to watch: Unfortunately it’s not on streaming yet, so hopefully you can catch in the theatre like we did. If not, be patient.

Food pairing: Despite the melancholic mood, I think you need to go with French fries here. Perhaps in abundance.