Tea Friends

Mana leads a group of young people who start a call girl service for elderly clients, affectionately called “Tea Friends.” One day at a supermarket, she encounters Matsuko, an elderly shoplifter, and offers her a job. Disillusioned by a lonely old age, Matsuko rediscovers a sense of purpose in being needed—and gradually becomes one of the most popular tea girls. Just as the group’s bonds and business appear to be thriving, an unexpected incident draws police attention, and the seemingly unbreakable ties among them begin to crack. The film is inspired by a true event that deeply shocked Japan in 2013.

Director: Bunji Sotoyama

Countries: Japan

Year: 2022

Runtime: 135 min. Genre: Drama

Languages: Japanese with English subtitles

Title in Japanese: 茶飲友達