Lack of good storyline.

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

This movie ought to make you sit back in your chair and imagine living in such a place.For me, I would sail my boat on that beautiful lake on summer afternoons and then go to Cafe Mani for Mizushima's breads and Rie-san's meals-then sail home to bed,with the sunset, smiling all the way. Basically,we follow 3 stories,the big city girl, a little girl and her divorced father,and a aged married couple-all who come under the almost zen-like spell cast by the two young owners of this café/B&B. Visually this film is astounding,everything seems so organic-there is one car,one motorcycle,one scooter and a bus-you never see anything plastic. Hats and scarves are hand-knitted,not bought. One thing left to your imagination is how hard Rie and Nao must work to run Cafe Mani,but we see more the rewards of their labor-especially through the friends and regular customers there and the amazing respect and honor people can show each other,if taught to do so... Make of this review what you will.