A twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.
Directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder, Isao Takahata (who already directed Grave of the Fireflies), this is another movie anchored in reality, with the main protagonist facing memories of the past while discovers more about herself through nostalgia. Using flashbacks, it touches serious subjects, like a toxic family life, awful parents, environmentalism, puberty and personal relationships, while being fun and entertaining. The music is also connected to the reality, at some point being happy to notice the unmistakable pan flute of the great Gheorghe Zamfir. Another Studio Ghibli that I’ve seen for the first time, it gets six popcorns and goes into the Movie Vault with the others.
