Himizu

A message to the dark side of Japan, and a reminder to the human race. Our kids and the coming generations are something to celebrate, something to support and invest in, not bring down or vilify. Like the rubble after a tsunami, no matter how dire and bleak it seems, humans rise from it. “For the future. What? I died once. I died in the tsunami. But Sumida… the kid has a future ahead of him. He is someone we can invest our future in!” “…you’re immobilized by your own rules. You have to think about the future. You have to change your views. Maybe you failed once. Then leave your old self behind and go on. It’s your obligation. Be strong enough to cry and ask for help!” The music and sound design in this film are phenomenal. It feels both like something from Kurosawa’s Cure and an Obayashi film. The performances from the two teen leads are fantastic as well. Overall, it had a very different vibe than I first expected, but it ultimately went dark, and also very beautiful and hopeful. Some of the final scenes and dialogue are just immaculate, a real rollercoaster of a movie. - Also I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many slaps in one movie, and that is some crazy ass parents!