Byousoku 5cm
Heartbreaking. Bittersweet.
Makoto Shinkai's latest offering is more down to earth than Voices from a Distant Star and Promised Place Beyond the Clouds. Although the outer space theme is still there, it serves to provide an analogy rather than affect the plot directly. For Byousoku 5cm, the theme is distance.
A trailer to whet your appetite before the spoilers that follow that might spoil yours.
****** Spoilers Alert *******
Three episodes makes up the entire feature, centred around a boy-to-man Takaki. Episode 1: Okasho reflects the innocence, passion and idealism of young love. Takaki and Akari are childhood friends but are forced to be transferring schools all over the country due to the mobile careers of their respective parents. They tried to overcome distance through brute force - letters, telephone calls, long distance visits - all which makes for some touching and tender moments when they savour the closeness when they finally get it.
Second part is Episode 2: Cosmonaut is when distance becomes more than something physical than can be overcome by persistence alone. Takaki has grown to be an adolescent, along with it comes the sudden unfamiliarity and hesitation to initiate closeness. There is another girl, Kanae, in his life who likes him but he is always so "distant" to her. Makato's theme of space travel presents itself here as a nice reminder of separation and distance. Kanae's unrequited love is heart wrenching - "Please don't be so kind to me," she implored. Man I'd take her over Akari anytime.
Lastly, Episode 3:Byousoku 5cm. Definitely the best episode that hammers the nail into your heart. After many years have passed, Takaki turned workaholic and finds life meaningless. Girls he had dated can never seem to form a relationship with him. He still pines for the past while everyone else has moved on.
I love how masterfully the theme evolves through the 3 episodes - through time, distance and finally self inflicted loneliness. And not to mention the animation and art - absolutely breathtaking. And the impactful MTV-style finale set to Yamazaki Masayoshi's "One more time, One more chance" will make you want to break out the Kleenex, or Scotties, or loo paper, or whatever can grab to wipe your eyes.
Heartbreaking. Bittersweet.
Makoto Shinkai's latest offering is more down to earth than Voices from a Distant Star and Promised Place Beyond the Clouds. Although the outer space theme is still there, it serves to provide an analogy rather than affect the plot directly. For Byousoku 5cm, the theme is distance.
A trailer to whet your appetite before the spoilers that follow that might spoil yours.
****** Spoilers Alert *******
Three episodes makes up the entire feature, centred around a boy-to-man Takaki. Episode 1: Okasho reflects the innocence, passion and idealism of young love. Takaki and Akari are childhood friends but are forced to be transferring schools all over the country due to the mobile careers of their respective parents. They tried to overcome distance through brute force - letters, telephone calls, long distance visits - all which makes for some touching and tender moments when they savour the closeness when they finally get it.
Second part is Episode 2: Cosmonaut is when distance becomes more than something physical than can be overcome by persistence alone. Takaki has grown to be an adolescent, along with it comes the sudden unfamiliarity and hesitation to initiate closeness. There is another girl, Kanae, in his life who likes him but he is always so "distant" to her. Makato's theme of space travel presents itself here as a nice reminder of separation and distance. Kanae's unrequited love is heart wrenching - "Please don't be so kind to me," she implored. Man I'd take her over Akari anytime.
Lastly, Episode 3:Byousoku 5cm. Definitely the best episode that hammers the nail into your heart. After many years have passed, Takaki turned workaholic and finds life meaningless. Girls he had dated can never seem to form a relationship with him. He still pines for the past while everyone else has moved on.
I love how masterfully the theme evolves through the 3 episodes - through time, distance and finally self inflicted loneliness. And not to mention the animation and art - absolutely breathtaking. And the impactful MTV-style finale set to Yamazaki Masayoshi's "One more time, One more chance" will make you want to break out the Kleenex, or Scotties, or loo paper, or whatever can grab to wipe your eyes.
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