An excellent animated romantic fantasy from Japan.
Despite this movie's prominent fantasy element, the fantasy is never the focus of this film. In fact many times the fantasy seems more like a visualization of the inner turmoil the main character is going through. This film deals with the tough subject of having to move on and keep living your life, after someone you love has passed on. This is something that many of us have had to go through and struggled with, whether in your case it was a friend, a family member, or a romantic partner, you can easily relate to what you are seeing our main character go through. This is handled very intelligently and maturely as the film openly discusses the unhealthiness of obsessively clinging to an image of that loved one, but yet the importance of letting that image live on in our hearts. The movie also discusses the importance of being able to stand on your own two feet. Others can be there with us to help us get through the hard times, but we have to believe in ourselves instead of counting on others' belief in us. One reason these messages ring so powerful is that they are told to us through a very likable and fully formed protagonist. She is not the simple cliché character we see in so many movie romances. She has many little small nuances that make her herself, and despite her obsession with the man she falls in love with, the character would be just as relatable and likable if not in this relationship. The supporting characters are not completely overshadowed by her though and fully get their own moments to shine. Some of them even have complete character arcs that are excellently done and yet never distract from the main story.
To be fair this film does contain some sickeningly sweet and sappy romantic dialogue that can be more than a little hard to sallow. I also was not much of a fan of the action packed climax as I felt that it was at odds with the rest of the leisurely paced and lower key movie.
Those faults can easily be forgiven with just how excellent the rest of the film is. I highly recommend this film, not only to anime fans but to those who just want to see a good movie.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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