In this touching and beautiful story from Sunao Katabuchi, Suzu is a girl growing up in the 1930’s and ’40’s in Hiroshima. In spite of the wars, her life is happy and peaceful – which is a good thing because she presents as a dreamer, an artist, and perhaps autistic.
In spite of her awkwardness, her lack of practical skills, and her social ineptitude, her family holds her safely in its embrace and in the comfort of traditional Japanese culture. But this is not to say they will pass an opportunity for her to leave. Things take a turn when Shusaku, a military clerk from nearby shipping town Kure, asks for her hand in marriage.
Hiroshima had been spared devastation, but as a military shipyard, Kure was subject to relentless raids. We join her new family in the exhaustion as they build a bomb shelter and have to respond to sirens until they are worn out. Suzu’s artistry helps her stay sane as she wears thinner and becomes weaker. In one air raid, she watches bombs bursting and thinks; “I wish I had some paint” – only to recoil and wonder “What am I thinking!” In addition there is rationing and propaganda and the hope that soon Japan will win and the war will be over.
Some part of the film touches on the fate of Suze’s home in Hiroshima – we see the flash of the bomb from fifteen miles away in Kure, and there is a scene where they visit later. It is… grim, but it is not Barefoot Gen.
*Trying not to have spoilers because the film is surprising in places with wonderful characters and moving story*
The watercolor art style of this film is gorgeous, from urban locations to lavish scenery to home interiors that feel lived in. At times the storytelling shifts from the usual imagery to Suzu’s own art – illustrated with her vision and her narration.
As a home-front civilian wartime film, This Corner Of The World has been compared to Grave Of The Fireflies, and there are similarities. But Grave is emotionally… difficult, and often described as “the best movie you’ll never watch twice”. That is not the case with This Corner Of The World, which leavens tragedy with humor, romance, and nostalgia. And to say it bluntly, a higher percentage of the main characters survive and overcome. Despite, everything and everyone they have lost.
The story is lovely, and sad, but strangely uplifting and worth seeing more than once. After seeing it in streaming, I bought the Blu-Ray so I could see it in its full visual glory.
- As usual, Wikipedia has the deets
- The voice acting in the English dub seems very good, but as always I recommend the original voices for which the film was made.
- The film comes from the eponymous manga series This Corner Of The World
- I think Suzu may be autistic because of her general behavior patterns, and because of a scene in which she clearly exhibits auditory processing error, and responds with a generic reply.
- If you want to see Barefoot Gen, look it up but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
- I wonder what the symbolism is in both Barefoot Gen and This Corner of the World, of ants coming into the house.
georgewiman 