hanna -

Honestly, I can’t believe I wasted my time watching this. Yes, its a Studio Ghibli film and yes I love all their movies. But this is one that I am on the other side of the spectrum. It had so many unanswered questions and loopholes that you can’t help but think is that really it? It is a really shallow movie depicting that boys will always get swayed by looks and love is as shallow as it gets because its derived by looks. Not to mention, Akiko (the main girl character) is a manipulator and continues to use Yutaka (main guy character) as a puppet. Consistently drags him into her problems. Because of Akiko, his friendship with Taku (second guy character) breaks off due to Taku’s clouded judgement and sides the girl until they entered University. Honestly, if you’re going to let a girl influence your friendship just like that you’re better off alone. In the end, they still got together like any cliche love story. However, there is a good moral to learn from. When you’re young, you do anything and everything for love. Its as if we don’t realise that unreciprocated is not as important as familial love or friendship. Then once we get older, we realise and cherish the bonds that we wish and hope to create. I rest my case.