Review of Suzume

While Makoto Shinkai, admittedly in his own words, has been using Japan's natural disasters in the subtext of his films since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, this is his most direct confrontation with the event that affected the country both materially and emotionally. A heart-wrenching depiction of the effects of that tragedy coated with Miyazaki-esque fantasy made this one of Shinkai's most visually and thematically rich films. The result is a film that is both fantastical and intimate allowing us to trace Suzume's growth and healing from her trauma as well as that of the people and the setting around her as a whole. Shinkaibrings Japan to life in a different dimension, this time in more sombre but just as beautiful tones in Suzume, as he has done in much of his past work (also featuring his signature timelapse shots, more trains and a panoramic view of Tokyo again). The plot itself isn't focused on a single goal and it's as meandering and evolving as the journey the characters go on. While this made me a little impatient around halfway through the film, as i tried to juggle the various tonal shifts and changing setting while trying to find what was set up at the beginning, the second half delivered a complete package, enhanced by the wonderful animation and soundtrack we have come to expect from these movies.

This is an excellent film, with the emotional highs and the excellent production quality washing away any minor gripes I had, mainly from the first half. I'm glad I got to experience this in theatres and I look forward to Shinkai's next, and hopefully even more evolved, film. 10/10