is a 2003 Japanese film directed by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien for Shochiku as homage to Yasujirō Ozu, with direct reference to the late director's Tokyo Story (1953). It premiered at a festival commemorating the centenary of Ozu's birth. It was nominated for a Golden Lion at the 2004 Venice Film Festival. Plot The story revolves around Yoko Inoue (played by Yo Hitoto), a young Japanese woman doing research on Taiwanese composer Jiang Wen-Ye, whose work is featured on the soundtrack. The late composer's Japanese wife and daughter also make appearances as themselves. Cast Yo Hitoto - Yoko Inoue (井上 陽子 Inoue Yōko) Tadanobu Asano - Hajime Takeuchi (竹内 肇 Takeuchi Hajime) Masato Hagiwara - Seiji Kimiko Yo - Yoko's stepmother Nenji Kobayashi - Yoko's father Reception Café Lumière was placed at 98 on Slant Magazine's best films of the 2000s. In 2019, director Steve McQueen named it as the best film of the 21st century, describing it as "[a] film that happens without you knowing." Notes External links 2003 films Taiwanese drama films 2000s Japanese-language films Films directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien Shochiku films Films with screenplays by Chu T’ien-wen 2000s Japanese films Japanese drama films