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Our arthouse cinema's Studio Ghibli fest means I finally got to see Only Yesterday (original title Omohide poroporo, "memories trickling"). This is one of the two Ghibli movies that haven't been distributed in the US even though Disney has the rights -- probably because of the discussions of menstruation sparked by an elementary school health class.
Briefly: Taeko is a 27-year-old single Tokyoite in 1982 who is take a two-week vacation working on a relative's farm (her brother-in-law's sister's), which brings up memories of fifth grade and a frustrated summer trip to the countyside. As the movie progresses, the memories start to literally intrude on her present life, with her younger self and classmates appearing around her as part of flashback transitions. (Once, girl!Taeko peeks around a adult!Taeko's train berth, sees the audience, gasps, and hides again.) Eventually the reason for why that age in particular becomes clear, as her adult self is, like her early adolescent self, also on the threshold of a life change that she's not at first conscious of.
Ghibli is known for its lush landscapes, but this? -- this has the best backgrounds I've seen in a Ghibli movie. A gorgeous and fluidly animated work of cinema. Part of this is driven by the director's soapboxing on the importance of Japanese agriculture, organic farming, and the purity of rural life -- which gets, um, a little heavy-handed. That part is, actually, the movie's main flaw. (Significantly, the entire adult!Taeko story was added by the director/scriptwriter -- the original manga was just a memoir of childhood.)
Otherwise, it is a very good movie. Adult!Taeko is believably wise in some ways and still fumbling in others, girl!Taeko is indeed in early adolescence, and Toshio is adorkable and almost deserves her. And the climax, especially the moment when girl!Taeko shyly shakes her older self's arm, physically interacting for the first time, is moving. As is the final image of girl!Taeko looking after adult!Taeko, having been left behind because the memories are no longer needed.
It deserves to be better known.
---L.
Briefly: Taeko is a 27-year-old single Tokyoite in 1982 who is take a two-week vacation working on a relative's farm (her brother-in-law's sister's), which brings up memories of fifth grade and a frustrated summer trip to the countyside. As the movie progresses, the memories start to literally intrude on her present life, with her younger self and classmates appearing around her as part of flashback transitions. (Once, girl!Taeko peeks around a adult!Taeko's train berth, sees the audience, gasps, and hides again.) Eventually the reason for why that age in particular becomes clear, as her adult self is, like her early adolescent self, also on the threshold of a life change that she's not at first conscious of.
Ghibli is known for its lush landscapes, but this? -- this has the best backgrounds I've seen in a Ghibli movie. A gorgeous and fluidly animated work of cinema. Part of this is driven by the director's soapboxing on the importance of Japanese agriculture, organic farming, and the purity of rural life -- which gets, um, a little heavy-handed. That part is, actually, the movie's main flaw. (Significantly, the entire adult!Taeko story was added by the director/scriptwriter -- the original manga was just a memoir of childhood.)
Otherwise, it is a very good movie. Adult!Taeko is believably wise in some ways and still fumbling in others, girl!Taeko is indeed in early adolescence, and Toshio is adorkable and almost deserves her. And the climax, especially the moment when girl!Taeko shyly shakes her older self's arm, physically interacting for the first time, is moving. As is the final image of girl!Taeko looking after adult!Taeko, having been left behind because the memories are no longer needed.
It deserves to be better known.
---L.