Call Me Chihiro
A former sex worker finds unexpected purpose serving bento and offering companionship to isolated people in a quiet seaside town.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- calm
- introspective
- serene
- quiet evening
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as a calm, humane, and emotionally resonant portrait of loneliness and healing, supported by natural performances and thoughtful visuals.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Chihiro's previous life as a sex worker shapes how she relates to customers and other lonely people, while her history is deliberately revealed with restraint.
The seaside bento stand is Chihiro's workplace and the central meeting point for vulnerable customers, children, and other outsiders.
The story moves through Chihiro's relationships with Kuniko, Taniguchi, Hitomi, Basil, and Utsumi, enriching her story through multiple perspectives.
The small seaside town, calm rhythm, and recurring encounters give the drama a serene but wistful atmosphere.
Films like Call Me Chihiro, and why
Our Little Sister
shared contemplative slice of life drama, emotional loneliness, and quietly compassionate character encounters
After the Storm
shared Japanese seaside setting, understated humanism, family and belonging themes, and gentle pacing
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
shared introspective drama, isolated characters, emotional healing, and warm observational tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Rikiya Imaizumi
- Release Date
- 2023-02-23
- Runtime
- 131 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (151)
Cast
- Kasumi Arimura
- Hana Toyoshima
- Ryuya Wakaba
- Yui Sakuma
- Van
- Lily Franky
- Jun Fubuki
- Mitsuru Hirata
- Toshie Negishi
- Itsuki Nagasawa
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Call Me Chihiro about?
- A former sex worker finds unexpected purpose serving bento and offering companionship to isolated people in a quiet seaside town.
- What is Call Me Chihiro like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Call Me Chihiro as slow, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Call Me Chihiro violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Call Me Chihiro.
- What did critics think of Call Me Chihiro?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as a calm, humane, and emotionally resonant portrait of loneliness and healing, supported by natural performances and thoughtful visuals.
- Which films are like Call Me Chihiro?
- Films with a similar feel include Our Little Sister, After the Storm, and The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House.
- How long is Call Me Chihiro?
- Call Me Chihiro runs 131 minutes.
- Where can I watch Call Me Chihiro?
- In United States, Call Me Chihiro streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
