An (also known as Sweet Bean) is a gentle and heartwarming film that features a beautiful depiction of intergenerational friendship, while also providing thoughtful insights and commentary on the role of the elderly and disabled in Japanese society. Marked by nuanced performances and beautiful cinematography, it has been screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.

Sentaro runs a small neighbourhood shop selling dorayaki, a Japanese confection consisting of small pancakes filled with the titular sweet bean paste. His ad for a part-time assistant is answered by Tokue, an elderly lady who has always wanted to work in a dorayaki shop, and has a particular affinity for making the sweets.

Over time, Tokue develops a friendship with Sentaro and high school girl Wakana, which is challenged when a customer discovers old secrets and begins to spread gossip about her life and past. Sentaro and Wakana must overcome societal prejudice to re-establish their bond with Tokue, and in the process, they come to learn more about finding happiness in life through meaningful work, living in the moment, and eating delicious sweets!