Whispers of the Heart (Mimi wo sumaseba) [1995]

[miriam_e]

I watched it again last night during dinner. Oh my! I had forgotten what a wonderful movie that is. I had tears of joy at one point -- not because a scene with conflict and tension had turned out good, but because a lovely scene had turned out so utterly wonderful (the scene where the old musicians joined in).

The animation, like the scenery artwork is simply breathtaking. The story finds beauty in the everyday at each turn and breathes life into the normality of its subjects while making their hopes and dreams soar.

It is not a story without conflict or unhappiness, but it's very close. This really has to be one of the most beautiful stories I've ever seen.

Comments

[nosearmy.livejournal.com]

More info on the music video:

On Your Mark

It says is was a double feature with Whisper of the Heart. I'd be interested to know if this is included on other releases of the film.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

I haven't found it in the shops yet. Until I do I have to make do with a rip that was on the net some time back.

I hate the fact that Disney apparently own the rights to some of the Ghibli stuff in the English-speaking world, so I might be paying one of the more vicious opponents of file-sharing for a movie that I wouldn't have found out about were it not for filesharing. If I see Disney or MPAA on the DVD then I'll have some serious soul-searching as to whether I cough up the money or not.

If Studio Ghibli still own it then I'll have no such problem.