Review of Suzume

In this fast-paced film, a girl travels with a handsome-sounding chair to prevent disasters around Japan. It's a very refreshing film, with beautiful animation and stellar voice acting. The plot itself is unique, featuring themes of grief and ordinary life. Suzume forms various relationships with others in the film, all leading their own lives and touching Suzume's in brief snapshots. Though the plot has thick supernatural elements, many of the scenes are a glimpse into ordinary lives. The contrast between the fast-paced action scenes and the lull between them is very enjoyable. The film touches on budding romance, grief and collective trauma. None of themfeel overly forced or sanctimonious, instead fitting in well with the narrative. The chemistry between Souta and Suzume isn't forced, and they have a refreshing bond throughout the story. The reference to a certain disaster was quite unexpected, but I really loved how the film handled loss and healing from it.

The characters were very lively and likeable, especially the protagonist. She's brave and quick to act, making this a fun watch. But she has her own share of struggles, which she slowly unravels as the plot moves forward. The modern fantasy elements are a little lacking, but the plot focuses more on interpersonal relationships, so it doesn't detract much from the plot.

There are a few confusing or unaddressed scenes in the film, but other than that, it's an amazing experience and I would totally recommend it.