Experiencing Interruptions?

Mother's Recipe

A young Japanese boy explores a lively Singaporean food court and forms an unlikely friendship with a local boy, bonding through the universal language of food.

  • Izumo Kawabe
    Director
    Rain That Never Ceases (2022), Escapism (2022), I Am Yellow, White and a Little Blue (2023)
  • Izumo Kawabe
    Writer
    Rain That Never Ceases (2022), Escapism (2022), I Am Yellow, White and a Little Blue (2023)
  • Sam Lyu
    Producer
  • Hyuga Kawabe
    Key Cast
    "Yuya"
  • Elton Cheah
    Key Cast
    "Li Yuan"
  • Keiko Hosokawa
    Key Cast
    "Yuya's Mother"
  • Viviane Rao
    Key Cast
    "Li Yuan's Mother"
  • Naoji Kurihara
    Key Cast
    "Li Yuan (adult)"
  • Matthew Kesuma
    Director of Photography
  • Izumo Kawabe
    Editor
    Rain That Never Ceases (2022), Escapism (2022), I Am Yellow, White and a Little Blue (2023)
  • Justin Wu
    Gaffer / 1st Assistant Camera
  • Sam Lyu
    Production Designer
  • Nanami Tabata
    Boom Operator
  • Devyaansh Mehra
    Key Grip
  • Michiyo Kawabe
    Production Manager
  • Shivani Nair
    Production Assistant
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 11, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    400 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Singapore
  • Country of Filming:
    Singapore
  • Language:
    English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - XCL World Academy
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Izumo Kawabe

17-year-old student aspiring to become director and director of photography, living in Singapore. 8+ years of visual storytelling experience directing, filming, editing, and producing video content on YouTube such as travel videos. Half a year of internship experience in Grab, the largest super-app in South-East Asia, and have been working as a bilingual script supervisor/behind-the-scenes video creator/production assistant under Eric Khoo production, Singaporean director and producer credited for the revival of the Singapore film industry.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This narrative mirrors my personal journey of longing for my father after moving from Japan to Singapore. While I was aware of my parents' divorce, I struggled to accept the reality and adapt to Singaporean society. However, as I grew closer to my Singaporean friends, I learned that embracing a new environment is not just a challenge but an opportunity to expand one's horizons and appreciate the vastness of our interconnected world. Even when language barriers exist, much like Li and Yuya, embracing different cultures and perspectives enriches personal growth. I believe that food is a cornerstone of culture, passed down through generations, often rooted in our mothers' recipes. Combining these cultural culinary traditions allows for innovative connections that open new doors, a reflection of my journey toward becoming more open-minded through diverse cultures. Pouring Ramen soup into Mee Pok noodles may seem like a small gesture, but it can lead to a world of unexplored perspectives.