Already many films show the suffering of civilians in Japan when World War II broke out, especially related to the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima. For the animation range, perhaps Grave of the Fireflies became the best known. In This Corner of the World as a manga adaptation titled the same works Fumiyo Kono also explores similar conditions. The difference, as well as the reason why the film is special, although naturally, grief must approach the narrative (this is a wartime movie after all), endless misery is not the main menu. Nor does this film proclaim itself as an anti-war dish, In the In This Corner of the World, without the impression of justification, war becomes a self-development field of Suzu (Rena Nonen) the main character, in which he galvanizes himself to practice survival in the midst of limitations, then learns about compassion and gratitude too. The story stretches from the 1930s, since Suzu who likes to draw still a child and lives with his family in Hiroshima, then culminates in the 1940s (exactly 1944-1945) when he moved to Kure after marriage young with a civil navy member named Shusaku (Yoshimasa Hosoya).
His new life forced Suzu to work harder to take care of household needs, especially since the war erupted, Kure often bombarded enemy air strikes. Instead of exploiting the pain, the plot emphasizes how Suzu lovingly racked his brain to outsmart the situation. When food is thinning, for example, the audience is not crammed with starved family views but rather the way they use what is there. Nor is the consistent touch of humour maintained to further reinforce its positive aura. Suzu is clumsy with a wry smile so a likeable figure who is always able to provoke laughter thanks to his behaviour, Sunao Katabuchi as director and scriptwriter (along with Chie Uratani) is trying to show how in the middle of the tragedy of pity though, always kept the beauty. Animation supports the intention. Visually composed of soft colour scratches and simple styles (in the sense not three-dimensional full details of complex realities) give intimacy also represents the innocence of its protagonist. From the moment we met until he grew up, Suzu seemed to settle down. Even at one time, American soldiers gave chocolates because they thought of children. This point is deliberate so that the movie looks through the perspective of a playful boy and can find beauty among the ugliness. Including when the bombing occurred, when Suzu saw explosions in the sky similar to splashing watercolours.
But In This Corner of the World is also reluctant to appear too naive by denying the facts of the tragic side of the war. As the war heats up and rises in danger, the film moves more seriously, starting to squeeze the audience's feelings. And because the thickness of happiness continues to be lifted, so darkness overshadows the resulting emotional impact, also the horror of staring civilians trapped under such enormous bombs. Plus Katabuchi did not hesitate to use the explicit visual builder's impression sad though (thankfully) has not reached the level of exploitation, entering the fair limits of war-induced images. It is a natural process, that is why the flow of tone is smooth, an advantage that fails to follow the narrative journey.
The groove often jumps roughly between pieces of short moments that last only a few seconds. Even narratives move episodically, summarizes a series of brief events in a given year that are not substantial for the whole story. The number of these inserts leads to a duration of 128 minutes, although it can be spoken intact for less than two hours. Katabuchi chose to minimize the transition. This method reinforces comedy through cuteness with unexpected timings but weakens the delivery of stories. Not without intent, because the director was about to pack the movie like a memory that cursory in mind. Suzu's past, whether the warmth of a family dinner or the experience of seeing a ghost is stored as an occasional "visited" memories, while the ideal scenario that ensues is like a beautiful dream. All the same, helped him find the purpose of life thanks to love.
RATING (8/10)
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