Haruko is a well-meaning single mother. Riku is her musically-inclined introvert son. Aiko is Haruko’s candid best friend that lives with them. Sorao is Aiko’s slightly eccentric novelist boyfriend, who also lives with them. The Aobas are not a conventional family by any means, but are family nonetheless.

Outside of our homes, we navigate various relationships: with friends, with lovers, with co-workers, with the self. They’re not always easy to deal with, but for the everyday life of the Aoba family, they can come home, sit at the dining table, eat, talk, and be comforted. A meal is not just a meal; it is a gateway to an abstract space—one that is open to conversation, confrontation, and revelation.

For anyone familiar with Matsumoto Soushi’s work, The Aoba’s Dining Table is just as carefully constructed and beautifully shot as his other works. The rhythm is restrained but occasionally explodes with bursts of energy. The muted colors of the outside world serve to highlight the warm hues of the Aobas’ house—so when that warmth starts extending outside of their home, it signals to us “this space is now different, this space is now home.”

Over the course of 4 episodes, we come to know this family, see them struggle and cheer them on. You won’t regret pulling up a chair and joining them for a meal—you might only regret when it’s all over.