Post #12: The Place Promised in Our Early Days

    Now I'm not normally an anime fanboy, and I'm not usually one for sentimentality in movies; not that it bores me, I just find most examples to be a bit formulaic; but one movie in both sections has been in my mind for a few years now; 'The Place Promised in Our Early Days'

 

     This beautifully directed and animated anime follows three friends in Japan and the changes that happen to them and between them over time.  The setting is Japan in the 1990's, but in an alternate universe where Japan was split up sometime around WWII; the South being controlled by the US and the North still being wholly Japanese.  A provoking philosophical concept, and one that the director could use to stand on its own.  This is also an ambitious idea, or would be if the political and social set-up were the main focus in the movie, but this is simply not so.  The reasoning for the national split is never fully explained, but merely acts as a thought-provoking backdrop to a portrayal of realism in the characters, Hiroki, Takuya, and Sayuri, and their relationships.  Sayuri mysteriously disappears over a summer, and Hiroki and Takuya, the two boys, drift apart after her disappearance.  What results is a surreal combination of "reality" and dreams where Hiroki dreams of and eventually tries to find and free Sayuri from a looming, distant, government tower.  This film proves in a way that many anime's attempt that real human interaction and connections are not limited to a "real" world or scenario.  The human mind can suspend disbelief in setting and still draw feeling from the relationships on screen, and the director, Shinkai, recognizes and fully exploits this.

    This film, on the surface, could be seen as a science fiction piece, with the differing and coinciding realities (we later find that Sayuri's dreams have some sort of link to other dimensions that scientists are trying to exploit), but this aspect never really becomes the focus.  The director gives the viewers just enough have a plausible setting and situation, at least plausible in the movie's realm, and lets the characters take the foreground, using realistic dialogue and beautiful art direction woven together.

    Outside of the complexities of human interaction, this film shines in its pure artistic sophistication, both in the character models and in the backgrounds.  Here are some examples of boards that were used as backgrounds throughout the film.

 

    The film has a certain ambient feel to it; a timelessness that brings the viewer into the world and feelings of the film's central characters.  The movie follows them at the prime of their life, but in repose, so it carries with it a certain nostalgia that the director instills.  The characters long for their past and the beauty that was inherent in it, and the art direction certainly transmits that. 

    This film isn't without its flaws, of course.  The reasonings of the Japanese split are never fully realized, and the workings and scientific aspects are always left a little bit vague.  Also, the emotion can seem a bit melodramatic at times, but that's the film's way so it takes a bit of disbelief.  The first time through, it's a little difficult to read the ins and outs of the story, but with a little research and interest, it's not hard to see the director's intention.  However, it's up to the viewer as to whether or not his vision really came into its own.  Some could argue the film embodies style over substance, but when the style is so good, its hard to get too caught up in that attitude.

I commented on Ian Crawford's and Carlyn Pocalyko's blogs. 

Comments

[Chuck Soo-Hoo]

I myself am not a fan of anime. I never knew why people were into it either, but there are some besides the usual Dragon Ball Z that everyone watches that are worth watching. Looking at the pictures and the story, it seems like it's going to be visually amazing!

[Hayleigh Allingham]

The backgrounds seem reminiscent of Miyazaki's in that they could be considered works or art without the animation. I wonder why anime backgrounds are so realistic and breathtaking are (to me) negated by the stereotypical anime people that are flamboyant and at times annoying. Haven't seen the film mentioned, but weeding through the good and bad anime can be really rewarding. For example, Cowboy Beebop is rich in novel plot structures, character development and art work.

[The Perfect Serial Killer Movie]

Incredible movie. I have seen this movie so many times and every time I really enjoyed it. Animations used in the movie are amazing and breathtaking. The background seems to be real one.