❝Mariko. Even as ashes, you never change. Sparkling, impossible to hold, and swept away by the wind. And then... unable to defy gravity.❞
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
My Broken Mariko was a heart-wrenching story of grief, loss and redemption, and crafted very well.
Considering the relatively short run-time, I was surprised by how skillfully the film dealt with its sensitive themes and issues without being inappropriate. The characters of Shiino and Mariko were painfully realistic, so it was a little difficult to watch at times because I was overwhelmed. The flashbacks showed how appalling Mariko's childhood was: going through the years and watching them grow up while her life just kept getting worse, how even after escaping her vile and disgusting father she couldn't break the cycle of abuse now in the form of boyfriends, Shiino standing by her through everything, but in the end being unable to save her, all of it was heartbreaking. The journey of atonement Shiino took was beautiful, and it was so moving to watch her finally break the cycle and save the girl. Mei Nagano did brilliantly as Shiino, and her slightly rougher personality contrasted Mariko, portrayed excellently by Nao, very well. The entire cast did so good, especially the child actors playing young Shiino and Mariko.
The cinematography was absolutely gorgeous, with some stunning shots of the natural locations, and I loved that the bleak colour grading in the beginning gave way to brighter colours the closer Shiino got to the cape. I thought that the score was soft and fragile, much like Mariko herself, and it weaved in and out of the film gently.
It's very easy to tell that My Broken Mariko was written by women, directed by women, for women, and it will stay with me forever.
❝Mariko. Even as ashes, you never change. Sparkling, impossible to hold, and swept away by the wind. And then... unable to defy gravity.❞
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
My Broken Mariko was a heart-wrenching story of grief, loss and redemption, and crafted very well.
Considering the relatively short run-time, I was surprised by how skillfully the film dealt with its sensitive themes and issues without being inappropriate. The characters of Shiino and Mariko were painfully realistic, so it was a little difficult to watch at times because I was overwhelmed. The flashbacks showed how appalling Mariko's childhood was: going through the years and watching them grow up while her life just kept getting worse, how even after escaping her vile and disgusting father she couldn't break the cycle of abuse now in the form of boyfriends, Shiino standing by her through everything, but in the end being unable to save her, all of it was heartbreaking. The journey of atonement Shiino took was beautiful, and it was so moving to watch her finally break the cycle and save the girl. Mei Nagano did brilliantly as Shiino, and her slightly rougher personality contrasted Mariko, portrayed excellently by Nao, very well. The entire cast did so good, especially the child actors playing young Shiino and Mariko.
The cinematography was absolutely gorgeous, with some stunning shots of the natural locations, and I loved that the bleak colour grading in the beginning gave way to brighter colours the closer Shiino got to the cape. I thought that the score was soft and fragile, much like Mariko herself, and it weaved in and out of the film gently.
It's very easy to tell that My Broken Mariko was written by women, directed by women, for women, and it will stay with me forever.
