Whisper of the Heart
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Movie Reviews of Whisper of the Heart
Movie Review: Guaranteed to Leave a Smile on your Face
Summary: 5 Stars
I was sure when I heard "Country Road" at the beginning of Whisper to the Heart that somebody had turned on the radio. But no, the song is a very present element to this wonderful animated movie. It's a distinct film in Studio Ghibli's repertoire, given that it's not a tangent fantasy and the setting of Tokyo is never really abandoned. It instead explores the subject of magic in other forms; just what is magic, and where can one find it? The first and only film directed by the late Yoshifumi Kondo, it is a heart-warming movie that explores the magic of life, and what it means to find yourself. It's something many can relate to, including yours truly.
Shizuku is a well-meaning but insecure junior high school student in Japan. Pressure is high on her year as they need good grades if they are to get into a good education. Shizuku, however, is restless and spends most of her time helping out other people, particularly with adopting English language songs into Japanese for her friends. Still, she longs for a direction. Her kind-meaning but demanding family don't help her there.
A series of events, however, lead Shizuku to meet Seiji, a boy from her year who wants to be a violin-maker. The two set up a warm, believable friendship. Inspired by Seiji's belief in his dream, Shizuku realises that to find herself, she has to follow her heart. Seiji's uncle, who runs an antique store (one of the items there is the Baron Cat featured in The Cat Returns), helps her in looking inside herself. Shizuku realises she wants to be a writer. But should she stay in school, or quit like Seiji and follow her dream? Can she find the courage?
John Denver's "Country Road" is a solid backbone to Whisper of the Heart, which is a beautiful piece of filmwork - written and storyboarded by Hayao Myazaki, it's a deep film with a profound, human insight. It's possibly even more distinct for the visual style of Shizuku's fantasy world, visualised by established artist Naohisa Inoue, whom Myazaki approached for the film. Though copyright issues may have led to its late US-release, Whisper of the Heart is a different kind of gem from Ghibli - a thoughtful revelation on what it means to not only look inside yourself and find out who you are, but what it means to act on it. It is an animated movie to be cherished, beautiful both visually and philosophically.
Movie Review: "If You Listen Closely"
Summary: 5 Stars
"Whisper of the Heart" (1995), animated coming-of-age story was scripted and storyboarded by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by the Yoshifumi Kondo. Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke) saw in Kondo his successor as Studio Ghibli's film director. Unfortunately, Kondo was only able to direct a single Ghibli film, "Whisper of the Heart", before his untimely death in 1998. As magical and beautiful as the rest of Studio Ghibli feature films I've seen, gentle "Whisper of the Heart" focuses on the dreams, feelings, insecurities, and search for life's meaning of two teenagers - middle school students Shizuku Tsukishima and Seiji Amasawa in modern Tokyo. We also meet Shizuku's and Seiji's friends and families. We will follow a smart and curious cat that likes to ride the subway train by himself and one day would lead Shizuku to a magical shop run by Mr. Nishi, a kind, wise old man whose teenaged grandson Seiji Amasawa checks out from the local library the same books Shizuku does. The boy dreams of becoming a violin master. There are untold stories behind the beautiful objects in Mr. Nishi's store that wait to be told, but it would take a talent to capture and to write them down. In the shop, Shizuku meets her first love and starts the long road on becoming the writer.
The beauty of the film lies not in the mythical worlds or the fantastic creatures from the fairy tales. It is in the little film's universal appeal, in the way all viewers, the children and their parents, can relate to one girl's search for place in life, for her determination to follow the dream , and for support, guidance, and approval she so desperately needs and receives from her busy but loving and understanding parents. My favorite scene in the film is the conversation 15-year-old Shizuku has with her mother and father at the kitchen table about her future. It was so realistic, filled with the warmth, love, and understanding that children need from their parents. "Whisper of the heart" reminded me the films of the great Japanese film director, Yasujiro Ozu. While watching this new Tokyo story, I felt the same warmth, soft tenderness, power of human emotions and moving simplicity as in the Ozu's films from over than 50 years ago.
Movie Review: An Artistic Masterpiece!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Before I saw this fantastic animated masterpiece, my only contact with Japanese Anime' was when my nieces and nephews came for visits (they were interested in watching Ninja/Karate/Sailor Moon, etc). These cartoons, although hypnotic and mesmerizing to the kids, seemed mindless with no real message (not that there's anything wrong with that).
One evening this past January, I was flipping through the channels when I came upon TCM's Thursday night special tribute to Hayao Miyazaki. I listened to the pre-feature info-guy describing the great artistry and storytelling of this director and thought "I'll give it 2 minutes and then continue flipping".
After only ten minutes I found myself totally immersed in the experience. What a beautifully crafted, artistically amazing, and poignant study of two young Japanese students encouraging one another to follow their dreams as they surprise themselves by falling in love.
As a professional artist, I was amazed at the superb quality and artistry of the background panels, each one alone a separate masterpiece, and the 3 dimensional feel in the movement/action. This was not what I had expected.
The most striking element of this masterpiece (at the risk of being trite) was the slice of modern Japanese life/culture it imparted to me. The characters were real, while at the same time decent, moral kids. There was a certain innocence in the characters that was totally refreshing and endearing. They projected an almost spiritual reverence for their elders and total respect for their teachers. Because the Japanese culture is shown to be "user friendly", their parents had no fear for their kids traveling on bikes and rapid transit throughout Tokyo. It was quite charming to follow the various characters through their daily activities and reminded me of my own childhood before our American culture became so dangerous.
I now own many of Miyazaki's films including Porco Rosso, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, and a few others. However, my personal favorite is still Whisper of the Heart. I can't wait to introduce my nieces and nephews to these fantastic and beautiful stories.
Movie Review: An inspirational, beautiful coming-of-age film
Summary: 5 Stars
I am so glad that this Studio Ghibli gem is finally getting a U.S. release, so that it can get an even wider audience.
Unlike some better known Ghibli productions such as Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, Whisper of the Heart has very few fantasy elements; it's a story that is very 'real'. The setting of Whisper Of The Heart (original title: Mimi wo Sumaseba) is a typical Tokyo suburb, and the main protagonists are Suzuka and Seiji, a girl and a boy in junior high school. Suzuka is not quite sure yet what she wants to do with her life, but Seiji on the other hand has already found his lifes work. The themes this movie cover are universal, such as:
What does it mean to have, and pursue a dream? What is the use of education? What does it mean to love someone? And so on.
This is a perfect family movie also, for kids over age 10 or so and up. The pace may be a bit too leisurely for younger kids and they may not quite get the themes of ambition, etc as well as older kids might, though there is plenty of other elements to hold their attention, such as the gorgeous animation and the cheekiest cat imaginable. (There is absolutely nothing in this movie that's 'inappropriate' for young children in any way - just that the themes may be a bit difficult for them.) Adults who remember their teenage years would love this movie also. It made me remember what it was like to be 13 and unsure of myself and what I wanted to 'do with my life', and of hanging out with my friends, and the crushes I had on boys, etc. This movie is particularly great for young girls, since Suzuka, the main character, is one of the most realistically portrayed low-teen girls I've ever seen on screen. Ironic, since she's animated. (I wonder why so many Ghibli movies feature a girl as the main character?)
I do hope that Disney doesn't dub this with hyperactive voice actors - the original voices are quite calm and 'normal'.
Incidentally, this is a prequel of sorts to The Cat Returns (Neko no Ongaeshi), since a cat statue that appears in Whisper... comes to life so to speak in the more fantasy-oriented The Cat Returns. You can enjoy either movie on its own, however.
Movie Review: Pure Perfection
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the lesser-known Studio Ghibli productions, "Whisper Of The Heart" is also one of the most brilliant gems in a Ghibli crown that seems to be studded with nothing but brilliant gems. It begins with two simple premises - 1) during summer vacation a book-loving girl named Shizuki discovers that the same person - a reader named Seiji - is also listed on the library cards of most of the fable-books she checks out as having checked them out also, and 2) during the simple act of taking a train to deliver her father the lunch he's forgotten to take to work, Shizuki is uncannily intrigued by a distinct cat riding the bus and decides on a whim to follow the cat off the train and see where he goes. From these two beginnings the movie and its phenomenal cast of characters branch off in a myriad of directions. Both hilarious in a way few live-action comedies can match and incredibly moving on a level few live-action dramas can ascend to, "Whisper Of The Heart" is also, undoubtedly, one of the most gorgeously romantic tales ever told. The closest comparison, in non-animated terms, might be to imagine "The Notebook" crossed with "Serendipity" but with certain elements toned down to open the movie up for younger viewers as well as older ones. In the transition it loses not one whit of its power, enchantment, or depth.
It's also about a lot of other things. It's about insecurity vs. taking the plunge. It's about a quaint old antique shop and its owner and patrons. It's about a striking statue of a bipedal, nattily-attired cat whose gem eyes catch and refact the sunlight in a mesmerizing way, in that shop. It's about the value of story, it's about impromptu musical singalongs, it's about dreams vs. societal expectations, and more further tangents than can be listed here, all coming together in one extraordinary package. Absolutely unforgettable, one of the most essential movies ever made. Movie lovers of all tastes and stripes owe it to themselves to give this masterpiece a try.