I can't count on my fingers the number of Studio Ghibli offerings that are far superior to this one because I would need to be a Hindu god to have that many hands. The words that come to mind are "disappointing" and "somewhat boring". My own life story would be as interesting (not that it is anything special) and there must be tens of millions of stories that are more interesting than mine or the plot of this movie.
About production values, it is as beautifully rendered as ever with one exception. The attempts at reality in Taeko's features in some shots were a fail. Her face seemed distorted sometimes. I don't remember any of the other character's faces having it. I sometimes have wrinkles like that, but I'm old.
At least half of the film is devoted to typical experiences in fifth grade that don't seem to have much bearing on the rest of the film. For me there was a lot of "so what" going on. Little boys are pigs. Sometimes little girls are too. What else is new? Her big sisters are pains in the ass, but again, that's just life. Her sisters obviously feel the same about her. More significant, is that Taeko's father is distant and harsh and her mother starts every third sentence to her with "You should
", which always sounds like she is really saying, "You should be somebody else." That, I get. And it is worth a couple of stars for reality. OK, OK! Her schoolmate's antics are worth a star too.
The other half of the movie (intercut (which didn't bother me at all) with the fifth grade memories ) is in her late to mid twenties deciding to take a summer vacation with relatives in the country picking saffron flowers and weeding rice paddies. It can be back breaking work, but she much prefers it to her life in Tokyo. (I get that too as I am no fan of big cities.) She meets a young man, Toshio. They have friendly conversations. He's a nice guy but they don't express by word or manner or hidden looks that there is any romantic interest on either side. (Toward the end there are some faint indications that he could be having some, but if so, he is as bad as any fifth grader about hiding it. Actually, it's worse given that he is an adult.)
In the last few minutes of the two-hour movie, Granny suggests to Taeko that she could marry Toshio and live with them for good. She is taken aback by the suggestion and not filled with joy. He shows up to take her to the train home. There is a confused conversation. He takes her to the train. She leaves, as credits roll and memories of her fifth grade schoolmates fill the train car. The credits finish. The train reaches the next station and she gets off and takes another train back. Joyous reunion!
I have to say that I was filled with dread during the last twenty minutes that the movie would end that way. It's a hack job of an ending and I guess we are supposed to be left with the impression that they get married and live happily ever after.
Well, life rarely works that way. She clearly likes the young man and apparently he likes her. Often that is enough. But I would hardly expect better than just an OK relationship based on a compulsive act less than an hour after being presented with an idea that isn't one's own. And "just OK" often turns after a few years or decades to, "What in the hell was I thinking." I know all about that. I was in my forties after a messy divorce before I found someone I genuinely love. And by "love", I don't mean the emotional high one gets in the first month or two of a relationship. That part fades fairly quickly. I mean the bond that is left after six months or more.
Taeko seems to be a fairly sensible woman, but we can only pretend that she tells Granny, "I really do love it here and I hate the idea of going back to Tokyo. So thank you for the invitation. I would really like to live with you and your family. You know I will pull my own weight, but about getting married, not now, at least not yet and maybe never. We'll see."
Or maybe she and Toshio skipped the emo high and went straight to the bond without realizing it. I suppose that could happen. And after all, it's only a movie.
It wasn't terrible and some of it was fairly good, but I had to force myself to watch through the early and middle parts hoping for better and out of respect for nearly every other Studio Ghibli film.
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