A lot about this film can be considered successful. The drawings are once again very beautiful, even if there have been even more successful Japanese animes in this field in recent years. The plot is quite interesting; for non-Japanese, dealing with disabled people and disability is certainly not ubiquitous in Japan.
But despite being more than just good, the film lacks a bit of depth. The figure drawing is also rather weak. The motivation of none of the characters involved is convincingly presented. Tsuneo remains pale at all, a real character of his own is almost never recognizable. He remains unbelievable. He only shows real emotions twice in the film, only in these moments is he a tangible and believable character. Joze's anger can certainly be explained - but the film fails to provide an explanation. What her grandma wanted, planned and thought is also left to the viewer; the film fails to give an answer.
Films don't have to answer all questions and it's okay if viewers have to think for themselves. But this only works if you have enough information. This leaves beautiful pictures, a nice story, a high claim, but also a lot of questions and a patchwork quilt of a film.
But despite being more than just good, the film lacks a bit of depth. The figure drawing is also rather weak. The motivation of none of the characters involved is convincingly presented. Tsuneo remains pale at all, a real character of his own is almost never recognizable. He remains unbelievable. He only shows real emotions twice in the film, only in these moments is he a tangible and believable character. Joze's anger can certainly be explained - but the film fails to provide an explanation. What her grandma wanted, planned and thought is also left to the viewer; the film fails to give an answer.
Films don't have to answer all questions and it's okay if viewers have to think for themselves. But this only works if you have enough information. This leaves beautiful pictures, a nice story, a high claim, but also a lot of questions and a patchwork quilt of a film.