Metrics
Genre:
Japanese, Hollywood, Drama
Rating:
8.8 /10
Audience:
You can probably only best appreciate this when you're out of school. Very clean, but nostalgia is the main emotion.
Rewatch Time:
Winter night, bundled up under a warm blanket. Single or couple makes the best ambience.
Winner:
Isuki's Grandfather (Katsuyuki Shinohara)
Review
I don't really know what it is about this movie. If you asked me, I don't think I could give you any one reason that makes it better than Recommendable. And I usually love movies with emotional climaxes, that cut deep and scar you, that make me want to shake the screen. But my heart feels at peace after watching this movie. And better yet, it somehow got me to appreciate the beauty of winter. There were moments in the movie when I could recognize imperfections, but it wasn't really the perfection of the movie that made it what it was. Its appreciation of the nature of humanity - from Itsuki (girl) stumbling around with her slippers at the beginning, to the classic childhood days that stay with us, to the importance of family, and the beauty of love. This isn't a love story, certainly, but its really an ode to life and nature. You never know what things you do will make a difference in others' lives - something as stupid as a doodle, a weird habit, or a song you like can become the reason relationships start or reignite. I didn't realize that Itsuki (girl) and Hiroko were both played by the same actress (Miho Nakayama), but I guess it really does mean a lot - she's asking herself to remember Itsuki (boy) who she will and has loved. There's no aspect of time with this movie. There's just memory, and I love it. The cinematography is great, the relationships are great, and of course, the mountain scene in the snow is phenomenal acting. Still, for some reason, when the grandfather talked I couldn't help but feel like there was the weight of the world on his heart.
Spoiler Territory
Not really spoiler-sensitive.