Little Forest: Winter/Spring
A quiet Japanese countryside drama where seasonal cooking helps a young woman rediscover steadiness, belonging, and vitality.
Overview
A journey back to the roots of life, where nature and self-sufficiency reign supreme.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- gentle
- contemplative
- comforting
- quiet evening
- rainy day
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ichiko's seasonal recipes and self-sufficient meals structure the film and express her relationship with home, memory, and nature.
The film follows gardening, gathering, cooking, and solitary life in Komori through quiet, episodic observation.
Winter and spring landscapes, agricultural work, and detailed food preparation make the changing seasons tangible.
Ichiko leaves city life behind for her mountain hometown and gradually regains energy through its natural and communal rhythms.
Films like Little Forest: Winter/Spring, and why
Little Forest: Summer/Autumn
shared rural slice-of-life focus, seasonal food preparation, contemplative pacing, and intimate connection to nature
Our Little Sister
shared japanese countryside setting, food-centered storytelling, gentle warmth, and reflective everyday rhythms
The Story of Yonosuke
shared rural community atmosphere, seasonal cooking, quiet observation, and emotionally restrained drama
Sweet Bean
shared contemplative food imagery, familial memory, and understated emotional storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Junichi Mori
- Release Date
- 2015-01-28
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (107)
Cast
- Ai Hashimoto
- Takahiro Miura
- Mayu Matsuoka
- Yoichi Nukumizu
- Karen Kirishima
- Momone Shinokawa
Common questions
- What is Little Forest: Winter/Spring about?
- A quiet Japanese countryside drama where seasonal cooking helps a young woman rediscover steadiness, belonging, and vitality.
- What is Little Forest: Winter/Spring like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Little Forest: Winter/Spring as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Little Forest: Winter/Spring violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Little Forest: Winter/Spring.
- Which films are like Little Forest: Winter/Spring?
- Films with a similar feel include Little Forest: Summer/Autumn, Our Little Sister, The Story of Yonosuke, and Sweet Bean.
- How long is Little Forest: Winter/Spring?
- Little Forest: Winter/Spring runs 120 minutes.
