A rainy Sunday afternoon is best spent with a movie on the couch, preferably in the company of warm tea and light snacks. Lately a movie that has my thoughts lingering is Little Forest by Junichi Mori, which consists of four parts corresponding to four seasons. Poetically simple, the plot centers around food preparation by the protagonist, Ichiko, who returned to her hometown in the scenic rural area after struggling to find herself in the city. In the persistent breathing of nature, the journey of self discovery is bookmarked by each seasonal, home-style dish made with raw honesty, gratitude and respect for ingredients. Detailing farming and cooking, punctuated with loose narrations and conversations, the rhythmic and subtle film presents a lifestyle that’s inward-looking, peaceful and radically simple yet fulfilling, stirring thoughts on our relationship with nature, food and ourselves.