Makoto Shinkai’s “WEATHERING WITH YOU”
Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald
I was predisposed to like this film. I’ve enjoyed the director’s films but WEATHERING WITH YOU exceeded my expectations.
What I found most impressive is how the director successfully creates an emotionally engaging fantasy within a grounded and real-world setting.
The emotional engagement emerges as we follow a runaway teenage boy who comes to the big city. There he experiences trials and tribulations as well as friendships that are new and unexpected. The fantasy: the boy falls in love with a teenage girl who is also at loose ends but has a secret power: she is a “sunshine girl.” She can temporarily “pray away” the increasingly torrential rains that are deluging Tokyo and disrupting daily life.
The realism surrounding the characters and their behaviors comes from spectacular, artistic, and detailed animation and artwork. If you have seen the director’s Garden of Words and were impressed with the “park” scenes, imagine an entire film that blends astonishing urban detail with gorgeous renderings of natural phenomena such as sunshine, raindrops, puddles, and clouds.
For most of the film a balance between fantasy and reality is securely maintained. Household details are realistically and lovingly rendered. The young duo employs cell phones and the Internet to support a small business built around the girl’s ability to control Tokyo’s increasingly dangerous weather.
Kudos to the voice actors who created the English language version I watched. I normally prefer Japanese films with English subtitles but the English dubbing here is superb. Special praise is due Lee Pace whose Mr. Suga is a far cry from Brother Day!
This film is incorporates themes and imagery that are distinctly Japanese. Despite the story, taking place in an aggressively modern and urbanized Tokyo, we do glimpse how elements of Japanese history and mythology imcluding how elements of the natural world have profoundly spiritual significance. Some of this is in-your-face obvious such as the old monk’s “history” lesson at the shrine. Other examples are more subtle. It’s a pleasure to see such unique elements presented in a way that all can enjoy and appreciate. Highly recommended!
Review copyright © 2023 by Dennis D. McDonald