Set before the Second World War, the narrative unfolds in a hilltop photo studio in the quiet hills that attracts countless patrons seeking portraits. One afternoon a couple arrives; the bride, exceedingly bashful, keeps her head bowed. The proprietor employs various tactics to coax a grin from her and ultimately succeeds.
A year later the same pair return, this time with their daughter. The girl is perpetually sulky, and again the owner must employ every trick to elicit a smile. Their smiles, captured in sepia tones, became treasured keepsakes for the family. From that moment blossoms an enduring bond between the young woman and the photographer, stretching across years and eventually into decades.
Studio Colorido Japan