Sing StreetSing Street

The Hope College Knickerbocker Summer Film Series will continue with “Sweet Bean” on Tuesday-Saturday, May 31-June 4, at 7:30 p.m.

Naomi Kawase’s adaptation of Durian Sukegawa’s novel “An” tells the story of Senatro, a middle-aged man who runs a small dorayaki shop to a loyal clientele. When 76-year-old Tokue responds to his ad for an assistant, Sentaro is skeptical about the eccentric old lady’s ability to endure long hours but agrees to take her on when she shows up one morning and reveals the secret to the perfect sweet bean paste – the filling to a dorayaki. Business flourishes with Tokue’s new home-cooked recipe, but she is driven into isolation once again when her secret illness is revealed and the public begins to protest.

“Sweet Bean” earned the New York Times Critics’ Pick, described by Glenn Kenny to be “beautifully shot and acted, [earning] its ultimate sense of hope by confronting real heartbreak head-on, and with compassion.”

The film is not rated and is in Japanese with English subtitles.

Following “Sweet Bean,” the Knickerbocker Summer Film Series will finish with “Sing Street,” showing on Monday-Saturday, June 6-11, at 7:30 p.m. The series continues the Knickerbocker Theatre’s tradition of showing new independent and foreign films for the West Michigan community.

Tickets for the individual films are $7 for regular admission and $6 for senior citizens, Hope College faculty and children.  Tickets will be sold at the door but are also available in advance at the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at (616) 395-7890.

The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St.