‘Suzume’ Review

Makoto Shinkai, a renowned name in mainstream anime conversations, gained immense popularity after his 2016 hit "Your Name." Shinkai's distinctive aesthetic and voice are evident in his films that combine reality and fantasy with stunning moments of beauty and heartfelt sincerity. His latest creation, Suzume, is a visual masterpiece that portrays the hard feelings of loss and longing. The movie's emotional connection to the audience is a testament to the skill of the writer and director.

Suzume Iwato, a high school student from the quiet town of Kyushu in Southwestern Japan, discovers a mysterious doorway that offers a glimpse into an eerily familiar magical world. Suzume teams up with Souta, a handsome young man who moonlights as a door "Closer" per family tradition, to stop the inhabitants of this other realm from coming through the portal and wreaking havoc. Japan has many such doors scattered throughout its many abandoned locales, and the world behind them, the Ever After, is home to a powerful dark force held in place by only two "keystones."

In her naivety, Suzume unknowingly frees one of these keystones, causing it to come to life as a mischievous god-like white kitten Daijin. Before Souta can turn it back to stone and restrain the worm creature, Daijin curses his soul to enter a three-legged chair – a well-loved keepsake from Suzume's mother who went missing many years ago. Together, Suzume and Chair-Souta must travel across Japan to find and capture the keystone cat in order to prevent the worm creature from emerging from any of the countless doors to slam its enormous worm body down on the planet with enough force to blast it to smithereens.

The movie's opening scene is a young Suzume wandering alone, searching for her mother in a town turned to wet rubble and ruins, which evokes a quiet alternative to the film's more silly sequences. Earthquakes are a repeated motif in Suzume. Each time the worm creature is breaking through one of the doors, the ground begins to quake, and earthquake alerts begin pinging everyone's phones. In these moments, Shinkai pulls away from the main characters to show the wider world of the story: a Japan with aching wounds from its seismic past.

At every stop, the introduction of new supporting characters adds life and history to this landscape and stakes to Suzume's journey. The threat of a world-ending earthquake holds a growing presence over the plot until it comes to a head in a revelation of Suzume's past. The heart-wrenching reveal ties to the real-life 3/11 Tohoku catastrophe – an earthquake and tsunami that caused thousands of casualties, displaced many more led to the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. This addition to the narrative creates a shared sense of pain and loss that ties together all of the story's elements.

Suzume and Souta's journey takes them to many abandoned places, from landslide-stricken schools to underfunded amusement parks, representing an emotional history filled with living people now gone. This echoes the kind of painful, mournful nostalgia that comes with seeing everyday life uprooted and destroyed. It is this very existential threat, on an albeit more massive, global scale, that Suzume and Souta are tasked with preventing by stopping the worm. Despite feelings of hopelessness in loss, it is the connection to our past and those around us that define our future.

While Shinkai's works are known to heavily feature romantic conflicts, Suzume stands out as a coming-of-age story that seems far more interested in its themes and other character relationships. Suzume's aunt Tamaki is one of the key emotional pillars of an issue, the power dynamic that comes with Souta being the one who essentially traps Suzume in her mission would be.

One of the strongest elements of Suzume is its animation. The film is a visual feast, with stunningly detailed backgrounds, mesmerizing character designs, and incredibly fluid animation. The attention to detail in the animation is impressive, from the way Daijin moves and interacts with his environment, to the way Suzume's hair blows in the wind. Shinkai's trademark use of light and color is also on full display, creating a world that feels both magical and grounded in reality.

In terms of sound design, the film is equally impressive. The score, composed by RADWIMPS, is a perfect match for the film's tone and themes, featuring both upbeat, catchy tracks and more melancholic, introspective pieces. The voice acting is also top-notch, with each actor bringing their character to life with nuance and emotion.

Overall, Suzume is a beautiful, heartfelt film that explores themes of loss, longing, and the importance of connections to our past and those around us. While it may not be Makoto Shinkai's strongest work in terms of its romantic elements, it is a stunning visual and emotional journey that is well worth experiencing. If you're a fan of anime or simply appreciate great storytelling and animation, Suzume is not to be missed.

Overall, Suzume is a visually stunning film that explores themes of loss, nostalgia, and the connections between the past, present, and future. Makoto Shinkai's signature style of blending reality and fantasy creates a world that is both beautiful and haunting, with moments of whimsy and heartfelt sincerity. The use of natural disasters as a recurring motif adds a sense of urgency and danger to the story, while also connecting the film to real-world events like the 3/11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

While the romantic storyline feels underdeveloped, the exploration of familial relationships adds emotional depth to the film. Suzume's journey to find the keystone cat and stop the worm creature is a thrilling adventure that takes her and Chair-Souta across Japan, visiting abandoned places and meeting new characters along the way. The film's stunning animation, emotional themes, and engaging plot make it a must-watch for fans of Makoto Shinkai and anime in general.

In conclusion, Suzume is another gem from the talented writer-director Makoto Shinkai. With its breathtaking visuals, emotional themes, and engaging plot, it's a must-watch for fans of anime and storytelling alike. Despite its minor flaws, the film delivers a heartfelt and poignant message about the importance of connections and the impact of loss on our lives.

4.5/5

Suzume hits theaters on April 14!