In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World (2016) User Reviews

A coming of age story that celebrates the virtues of innocence and being ordinary

[austin0731 · 8/10 · 30 July 2017]

A coming of age story set during WWII depicting the story of Suzu a girl forced to marry away from her home. Viewers may find parallels to 'Grave of the fireflies' another animated Japanese film depicting war time struggles of the ordinary people. In fact the struggles of the everyman(woman) is heavily featured in this story of a young girl in a fish out of water situation while maintaining her inherent innocence in spite of the horrors of war.

It is very interesting how through this character and the gentle animated artstyle a story of war depicting horrible imageries from bombings, to explosions, to death can all seem innocent and calm. A particular scene of explosions in the air transitions perfectly to colourful splatters of colours in the sky in the eyes of our protagonist. Her innocence and naivete is challenged throughout the film yet through the many challenges she faces yet it is maintained constantly.

What's great about this film is that because of such a characterisation her struggles to daily life often seems even on par to that of the horrors of war, focusing on the everyman's struggle is a new and innovative way of viewing war, struggles from finding her way and managing rations. Such a character seems almost the opposite of war and bloodshed as she sets the tone for this film which seems unlike one that focuses on war setting In this corner of the world apart from the bunch. Yet we still witness the character mature and grow throughout even though she doesn't lose her sense of imagination and innocence, it's a tough notion to balance and goes against traditional ideas in a coming of age tale where a main protagonist must understand the 'true colours' of society, the world, humanity…… in order to come to fruition. By doing so solidifying itself as a staple supporting that of peace and the good in being ordinary.

A beautiful, touching and realistic story

[tenshi_ippikiookami · 9/10 · 3 March 2018]

"In This Corner of the World" is one of the most beautiful anime I have ever seen. It is a story that will touch the heart of the viewer, a story that tells what seems a simple story, but that has layers and more layers in it, and that will stay with you for a long time after the end credits roll.

The story centers on Suzu, a young girl from Hiroshima, before, during and after the Second World War. She has a brother and a sister, she loves to paint and draw (and is a real artist), she enjoys simple things and has an easy smile, she just wants to be happy and help the ones that surround her.

However, life is never so simple and here, the war comes into play. And "In This Corner of the World" does a great job in balancing the small (Suzu) with the big (Hiroshima, the war and its consequences...). Even if Suzu is almost always there, on the screen, many little details, small conversations, and the interaction between characters depict a world of violence, of hate, of power and unresolved conflict. It is sad, it is touching and it shouldn't be a surprise if it makes you cry.

The animation is amazing. It is all very cute and smily, which makes the hard moments hit harder, the sad moments be sadder, and the angry moments make you angrier. The color palette, and the character's expressions help to bring the story to life and to make all of them feel real and close and their needs and desires truthful.

It is a great movie and totally worth viewing. Highly recommended.

A view of war from the eyes of a civilian

[aurora121 · 9/10 · 27 February 2017]

This is by no means the first animated film from Japan about life in that country during the Second World War. Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies came out in 1988, and while there are similarities, there are also many differences.

The lead character is called Suzu and we follow her life in and around Kure and Hiroshima before, during and after Japan's involvement in the Second World War. While there is no mention of the attack on Pearl Harbour, America's attacks on mainland Japan are shown in graphic detail. The hardship and suffering of the civilian population is the main focus of the film and punches are definitely not pulled.

All in all a great animated film, personally I'm going to try to watch more films directed by Sunao Katabuchi.

In this Corner of the World

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 26 November 2018]

This film, centred on Suzu Urano, opens when she is a child in pre-war Japan. She lives in a small town that is part of the city of Hiroshima. She helps her parents farming seaweed and in her free time engages in her love of art. Then, when she is eighteen in 1943, she receives a marriage proposal from a man in the city of Kure; a naval port fifteen miles away. She accepts to proposal and moves to Kure where she becomes part of his family. At first they are unaffected by the war but gradually shortages increase and then the city is targeted by American bombers leading to wide scale destruction and personal tragedy.

Sitting down to watch this I expected that it would be a tear-jerker at times; and it certainly is. What I didn't expect was the sheer joy of most of the first half of the film; pre-war Japan looked idyllic and even in during the war, while the war is far away, it is little changed apart from the shortages and the large number of naval vessels in Kore Bay. There are charming scenes as Suzu gets to know her new home; particularly the scenes where she talks to her new young niece Harumi. The animation is delightful; its water-colour style mirroring Suzu's artwork. Inevitably there will be comparisons with 'Grave of the Fireflies' as both are set in wartime Japan the films feel quite different; while this certainly has its tragic moments the ending isn't so clearly signposted. Overall I'd definitely recommend this thoughtful film; just expect to shed a few tears.

Must watch and read the original

[amakikamimura1 · 10/10 · 18 July 2021]

If you have chance to watch this movie, no matter what you must. And if you like it, you had better go looking ofor original manga book. I have been huge fan of original manga work but am still surprised the quality of this animation version. It was so true to original and yet what added has all tasty meanings. I found this masterpiece of animation as a rare case of triumph being transitioning media.

A gentle and thoughtful slice-of-life, a moving character portrait, and a historical glimpse of Japan during World War II

[kartiknnagar · 8/10 · 19 November 2017]

There have been few anime movies which have not left me deeply moved, and this is no exception. Mixing cute anime characters and their straightforward lives (at least on the surface) with the chaos and trauma of the Second World War may seem like an oversimplification of the war and a cheap, melodramatic effort at invoking sadness and tears, but there is a depth to the characters and emotions in this movie, and the ultimate message of the movie is not just that war is devastating and destroys the lives of countless innocents, but also that life moves on in spite of all the carnage, and people change and discover new qualities and things about themselves, transforming them into different (perhaps better?) versions of themselves.

The movie follows our female protagonist Suzu through her childhood to early marriage to the tumultuous years of the War. Suzu is a lovable and cheerful protagonist, gentle and kind but also clumsy and forgetful, redeemed by her artistic talent and her perseverance, but there are hidden depths to her that are only partially revealed through some odd sequences in the first part of the movie, and come into the spotlight in the second part after her traumatic brush with the War. The animation is beautiful, and the attention to detail is superb, transporting the viewer effortlessly to rural Japan in the 1940s. The cultural quirks of this place and era are delightfully presented in the first half of the movie, during which it feels like a gentle slice-of-life movie. Once the War begins in earnest, we see the effect that it has on the ordinary citizens. While there are some traumatic sequences, the movie does not linger on them, and instead it focuses on how the characters handle the changes and come to terms with them, often questioning the futility of all the devastation (especially after Japan loses the War) but also forging new bonds among each other and finding hidden depths in themselves.

One stark criticism of the movie is that some important supporting characters are not properly introduced, and Suzu's own feelings and desires are not properly explored, so that some revelations later on feel artificial and we never really entirely understand Suzu's actions and her motivations. Apparently, an extended version of the movie is being prepared which I feel is definitely required to understand this story in its full details.

ordinary life of wartime at Hiroshima and Kure in Japan. it is so peaceful.

[ibist40 · 10/10 · 16 December 2016]

At Hiroshima and Kure city in Japan during World WarII time. A ordinary family live in peace and straggle for everyday life. A poor menu, a little portion of rice. Suzu(a heroin of this film) miss ordinary life. But she and her family being mercy to each other. Even if the atomic bomb is dropped and Hiroshima is destroyed, She, her family, city person and all Japanese live alive Ordinary. atomic bombing scene is just a one cut, but, many Japanese think war is evil for every country and ever people. it is a new style of Peace Declaration Movie. may be the best animation movie in japan 2016. I want to hope many people enjoy this movie all over the world.

A touching and visually beautiful depiction of the true cost of war

[themadmovieman · 7/10 · 11 April 2017]

For a film that takes on a big and heavy-going part of history, I have to say I was very impressed with how sweet and touching In This Corner Of The World is. Although it's never an emotionally exhilarating experience, it brings a very nostalgic and intimate story to light with some beautiful animation and a unique look at the years before the bombing of Hiroshima, all making for a thoroughly engrossing and affecting film.

But first, let's just get across what doesn't quite work about this film. It's definitely important to know that this isn't an account of the Hiroshima bombing itself, nor is it a heavy-going war drama on par with something like Grave Of The Fireflies. That said, the first half of this movie doesn't quite deliver a strong enough story to make its more personal focus so enthralling.

As sweet and nostalgic as the film is, and as clever as using the historical hindsight to watch people live out their daily lives innocently in the old Hiroshima is, the plot for the first half just doesn't really take you anywhere. It's a pleasant and pretty account coming of age story, but it's a little too much like a slice-of-life drama to really give you that strong emotional connection to the characters right from the beginning, meaning that the film does take quite a while to really get going.

That said, once it shifts up into a more dramatic gear, things become very impressive. Now contrasting the hardships of a war context with the life that this young girl was building for herself, the film taps into an emotion that's rarely focused on, bringing a sombre atmosphere to what was such a sweet and pleasant story of nostalgia, by showing you what the true loss of war can be: an entire community filled with lives flourishing all over taken away.

And yet, the film remains surprisingly heartwarming even when it gets into some of the heavier-going parts of the history. Whilst there are many really sad moments that tug at your heartstrings, the determination of our main character as she negotiates an unimaginably harrowing situation is so uplifting, and brings out a brilliant beauty amidst all of the horror of war.

Which brings me to the animation. Styled in a similar fashion to many of Studio Ghibli's best works, this film not only looks beautiful, but its animation style plays a big part in its story. Throughout the film, we learn how the young girl loves to draw, which is even more apparent against the beautiful hand-painted landscapes.

But from her love of drawing come a series of stunning sequences in which we see the Japanese navy ships, as well as aerial battles and air-raids in the skies above Hiroshima turned into delightful and colourful paintings seen from the eyes of this young girl, heightening the sense of sadness when you think about such a happy and kind- natured character having her life turned completely upside down by the war.

Finally, when it comes to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, I think that this film handled itself very well. In keeping with the notion that it's not a direct story about the event on the August 6th, 1945, the very moment itself isn't shown explicitly, and we continue to focus on the confused and gradually beleaguered people living in the city on the outskirts of Hiroshima.

Yes, the story does still bring to light the horrors of the aftermath of the bombing, but in that it continues to show some beautifully heartwarming and uplifting moments that emerge from the terror, and in the film's finale, it really shines with a bold and brave but utterly stunning demonstration of the strength of decent human beings in the face of the worst possible adversity.

Overall, I was very impressed by this film. Although it gets off to a very slow start, it compensates with a beautifully-executed second half, using the sweet and nostalgic nature of the first act to tug at your heartstrings when everything turns dark, and with the gorgeous animation style from start to finish, this film is a truly touching watch.

heart-breaking and heart-warming

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 2 December 2017]

Suzu is a young girl living in a peaceful seaside Japanese city. It's revealed to be pre-war Hiroshima. Her family farms seaweed. At 18, she receives a marriage proposal from a relative stranger, a young earnest man from Kure who fell in love with her at first sight. She marries and moves in with his family. Kure is a Navy town and everybody works at the base. As food gets rationed, she finds ways to adapt. She continues to draw and is beloved by her adoring niece Harumi. The winds of war blow harsh as life grows ever more difficult.

The animation is simply beautiful which contrast nicely with the fear of impending doom. I really liked not naming Hiroshima at first. I'm sure everybody in Japan noticed the building right away but outside Japan, the audience may not catch on. It would be more compelling to stay silent on the city name longer. I actually expected more of a love triangle especially with that amazing sea rabbit drawing. It didn't turn out that way which is perfectly fine. I grew to like Shusaku which is exactly what Suzu does. There are some devastating drama but it also leave some heart-warming turns for the audience. Hiroshima is handled with class. It's Fireflies without the unrelenting depression.

A good story, good history, and superb anime

[turregano · 7/10 · 20 June 2017]

This is my first anime film and I am glad I chose it. It combined a good (if meandering at times) story, excellent animation, unique art, and appropriate history together to produce a wonderful (if long) film. The characters do not take advantage of the medium except in dream sequences or when something untoward occurs. This keeping the film in reality is one of its strengths. Another strength is what I feel to be the accurate portrayal of Japanese citizens during the war. I have read a great deal and feel this might actually be a very good teaching tool about the hardships and loyalty born by the Japanese people during WW2. And, finally, with my limited knowledge of Japanese culture, I thought this offered a valuable insight into how the culture works and what is important to the people. For all these reasons, plus the beautiful animation and art in the film, I am glad this was my first experience with anime.

Exquisite

[jp-campbell · 9/10 · 6 July 2017]

Reviewers want this exquisite and heartbreaking film to be a tightly focused wartime narrative but that it is not. We follow Suzu through several of life's terrifying (and often involuntary) leaps of faith. We leave home with her, just a girl, and to marry a boy she never recalls having met. We live with her in a marital house that is at times welcoming and at others rank with hostility. We see her reforge her attachments to family and become part of a new one; we see this house become her home, her place of work and something she will fight furiously to defend. There is the numbness and then bottomless acceleration of grief; the desensitisation to loss; a distance, a cold strength by the time more former intimates are gone. An honesty to the development of her marriage, the elements of loving warmth and explosions of tension. The imperfections of characters brought into proximity and friction. A nuanced portrayal of a perceived love-triangle and the way it is both uncharacteristic of stereotypes about this era but also entirely plausible in light of how wartime fatalism shapes emotional experience. Suzu is completely charming in her tirelessly hardworking and yet creatively daydreaming tendencies. Though her life is brutal at times, her perspective on her lot, and on the natural and human beauty which surrounds her, makes the idea of a now forgotten life of domesticity in prewar Japan almost seem appealing! To look back on her, the world that she sketched and painted in her mind's eye, the characters with whom she was co- dependent, feels like looking back with tearful nostalgia toward real friends now lost in time - the same emotions felt at the close of any great film, and in particular, most of the grown-up output of Studio Ghibli (apologies for the predictable reference). Really priceless.

Suzu pedals

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 17 August 2017]

Greetings again from the darkness. There is something hypnotic about the hand-drawn animation of writer/director Sunao Katabuchi's film based on the 2007-09 Japanese manga (comic) by Fumiyo Kouno. With some similarities to Takahata's 1988 classic Grave of the Fireflies, it's more than a wartime drama – it's a story of the human spirit.

It's 1935 and Suzu is a young girl who lives in Eba, a town in Hiroshima. She is an exceptional artist with a vibrant imagination and an adventurous approach to life. Her innocence and pleasant childhood existence is rocked when, as a teenager, she receives an out-of-the-blue marriage proposal from a stranger. Life with his family in Kure forces Suzu into a daily routine of cleaning, mending and cooking – all while longing for her family in Eba.

The film clicks through the months and years, and provides a history of war time from the perspective of a family and village. While the date of August 6, 1945 hovers on the viewer's mind, we experience how family dynamics are affected by war time. For Suzu, her daily routines such as food preparation provide a necessary structure and distraction, despite the ever-worsening shortage of food and supplies. These stresses are compounded by air raid warnings over the radio and Suzu suffers through vivid nightmares.

We so easily connect with Suzu as she continually fights through hardships – both physical and emotional – because of her determination to live a good life and overcome all obstacles. This is such expert story telling with a beautiful presentation, that the film periodically reminds us that war is close by. Even in a war torn country, the people must find a way to go about daily life while treasuring the rare moments of joy and understanding the strength of togetherness. It's rare that an animated movie can deliver such a humanist look at fully formed characters and their feelings … all within a historical setting.

Disappointing

[Poochface · 4/10 · 28 June 2017]

I couldn't engage with this and almost walked out several times especially as it was very bitty. The style jarred and I soon grew bored with the rapid changing of scenes as the dates went by.

Obviously once you hear the word Hiroshima, you know this isn't going to be a happy little animated film. In all honesty, it was only towards the end when the bomb is dropped, that my interest piqued.

I can see that my opinion is in the minority but I feel I must post to bring some balance to the overwhelming positive reviews. This could have been so much better.

The Real Casualties of War

[yadavanita-18093 · 10/10 · 17 March 2021]

When we look on a plane world map, we find Japan to be at the corner of it, so is the title of the film 'In this Corner of the World" but the subject matter it touches remains universal for any country that is torn by the ravages of war.

This film keeps aside the political aspects of war not diffrentiating between which army is good or bad ; is their cause just or not, but rather it focuses on the real casualties of War i.e the Citizens of the Country fighting their own internal war just to survive during these harsh times and that too bit by bit and regularly.

The struggle to provide for the family, do daily chores, cook adequate food, collection ration to store for future and also to cook nutritional food, wear same garments for many days to save water and other rations, educate yourself and the young ones, produce and stitch handloom, baskets, pots, sandals, scarfs etc; dig air raid shelters and stop everything you were doing and run towards it as soon as the sirens start, maintain good relationshions with neighbours and locals; above all this, Live with a constant fear that someone close to you may die anytime but still you have to be strong mentally and physically to cope up with your losses.

ALL these things are hard on their own even in normal conditions and imagining that people lived through them regularly during wartime just increases the respect for their loss and efforts.

All these above mentioned things are shown beautifully in the movie along with a naive and young love story of our heroine 'SUZU', who has married just after turning 18 and now is providing for her husband's family and struggling to survive the war keeping her mind busy in daily chores and drawing(in which she is naturally very good). Her drawing skills are praised by her fellows at the same time get her in trouble with the authorities, who in a silly mistake think that she might be giving useful information to the enemy.

The story and the setting remind us of another emotional story set during ww2 of survival of two children in war torn japan, "Grave of the Fireflies(1988)". We are quickly, by the power of an excellent narrative, sympathised by the lead characters of both these movies and when tragedy shakes their world, we also feel their pain and grief.

The soundtrack of both of these films is completely apt and helps us understand the mindset of the leads. Soothing and mellow and at the same time haunting. Cinematography and the use of colours is amazing along with historical acccuracy and facts, every frame is like a painting and the efforts of the artists is highly appreciated. It may have not shown the devastating effect of the atomic bomb and its aftermath on the people and surroundings as "Barefoot Gen(1983)" did but focuses on showing beauty among chaos. When Suzu sees the air raid for the first time she is not terrified, rather she is astonished by it and sees the brusting bombs in the sky as the brushstrokes of colour popping on a canvas and thinks of drawing the raided sky on paper. Also when the fire sticks are thrown by the planes, she sees them and even when one falls in her home she waits for a few moments before deciding to put it out. These examples show that she and anyone else willingly never ask to be in such harsh situations but are forced by contitions to live like this.

Sunao Katabuchi had no reason making this movie this Beautiful but Good Gracious, it is beautiful.

If the "Human Condition Trilogy" by Masaki Kobayashi helps us in understanding the dilemma of a soldier, this movie helps us understand and appreciate the struggle of the citizens.

There were many "Suzu's" whose efforts were as much important as their husbands, brothers, fathers fighting on the front; and this movie does justice to every one of their struggle and losses.

A different perspective into a life of woman before second world war, during it and after.

[anidanms · 10/10 · 28 December 2017]

This movie will show you a totally different perspective that you never imagined. Because of the movie and its characters are so beautifuly balanced its portraits a way of life that was, is and could be. Its shows us or rather teaches us how things can always be worse than they appear and how in the end one can always find the light to any of our actions.

Over all this movie is a wonderful piece of art, a piece of history and I for one would not change a single thing about it, I just love it as it is.

This is my best movie 2006

[ruminous · 10/10 · 10 March 2017]

One word: incredible! It takes place in Hiroshima during the war. I'm not a fan of anime at all but I think this anime will always hold a special place forever. The story was fast-moving and it's not too preachy. I thought it was written about our imagination. You know, the war only brought sorrow and took our imagination away. I actually was moved to tears sometimes since I empathized with her. I'm sure you'll be moved too :)

A sweet tragic and lovely historical slice-of-live anime movie

[bxd109 · 9/10 · 26 December 2017]

Now as there are many japanese or non-japanese movies about the world war two, most of them are focused on the affected areas by the bombs. But this one was wasn't entirely focused on that. This movie talks about the story of a woman (Suzu) from Hiroshima, who gets married and then moves away. The story follows her as she lives her daily life in a corner of this world that is full of war and despair and how the things get worse day by day. It talks about the struggle that these people have to go through, and all the pain they are to endure. After watching this movie now i can say that i might understand a little bit more the feelings of the people and what they had to go through at that time. Of course, we can never know how much it hurt to live like that, but we could at least imagine. Imagine not being able to hold the hand of someone whom you love, imagine not being able to hear the one you love or see them again, or not being able to hug them even though you want to. After losing someone important to her and also losing her hand she had to go through much pain, she couldn't draw any longer and what for? Humans. Yes, because of some "humans" she had to let go of many things, and this is only one person, now imagine millions of people, each one of them losing at least one thing that cannot be compensated. That's harsh. And also unacceptable. This movie made me realize again how filthy we humans are. The most affectionate moment in the entire movie for me was when that little girl who lost her mother got happy when she saw Suzu, imagine that little child who had to go through something like that, it's not fair. But we can also see that Suzu losing her hand wasn't entirely meaningless. Sometimes some things happen that we might never know the good in them. And this was kind of one of those things. The little girl might have never approached Suzu if she hadn't lost her arm and reminded her of her mother and she would probably die out there. But she got saved and it was like god has sent them back the little girl that they had lost. It was a very good movie in general and that art was also nice and I really loved it, i also don't mind watching it again.

Powerful Japanese animated war-drama

[Red-Barracuda · 7/10 · 24 June 2017]

I have previously seen the harrowing Japanese anime Grave of the Fireflies (1988) which depicted the horrors of World War II on Japanese civilians. This brilliant film remains the only Studio Ghibli film to not be distributed by Disney – it was too disturbing for them. With In This Corner Of The World we have a new take on the subject of life in wartime Japan. While this one did not have the impact of the earlier movie for me, it was still a very impressive bit of work. It specifically follows a family in the year leading up to the 6th of August 1945 when the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. The action, however, takes place in Kure, a city nearby.

The war is very much in the periphery of the story. Ominously hovering in the background with battleships silently moving into the harbour, military police active on the ground and air raids occurring regularly by the American military. While the horrors of war do escalate, much of the run-time is devoted to the family drama and this is perhaps the one weakness of the film, as the domestic drama isn't entirely compelling and a bit meandering. It means that we don't get as involved with the characters as much as we should and it could perhaps have been trimmed down a little at the very least. However, this negative has to be offset by the positive in the way that the story does examine the lives of ordinary people during this time. We also have the constant advance of time towards what we know to be that fateful August day and knowing what is to come actually generates even more tension than not knowing. When the moment finally arrives, it is understated in a way that is incredibly sinister. A silent white flash, a tremor and then a huge odd-looking cloud in the distance. It is a far cry from the usual way in which nuclear strikes are depicted in films but its very distance and unspectacular presentation creates a curious melancholic and depressing feeling which was quite powerful I thought. The artwork throughout is beautiful – this is a film which could easily pass itself off as a Ghibli product – and it doesn't pull its punches when it depicts some of the horrors of the aftermath of the 'new bomb'. Overall, this is another powerful and artistically strong bit of animation from Japan.

Old school Otaku, here.

[zsimon-214-219016 · 10/10 · 29 July 2019]

1993. I've been watching anime regularly since 1993. Serious stuff. Silly stuff. Seriously silly stuff. I've had to wade through a lot of formulaic garbage to get to the good stuff.

This is a masterpiece.

Kono sekai no katasumi ni - NO Spoilers

[LiteKoi · 7/10 · 20 September 2017]

I was expecting something a little different from this film. More accurately, I wasn't expecting something in particular but I was still surprised by the movie.

What I liked : the art in general (drawings, colours, music, sound effects, voice acting). I truly found the movie to be visually stunning and I liked the general atmosphere that is very poetic, sometimes melancholic, sometimes light, sometimes vibrant or even tragic. For the most part I also enjoyed the dialogue, there was quite a few funny moments, not necessarily in a pure comedic sense but often more like something between funny and touching. It was also interesting to simply witness what these people's live looked like during that time. I didn't know or had forgotten that Japan had been the prey to this constant bombardment during the war and it was a good reminder that civilians pay a dear cost during a time of war.. There was a few scenes that managed to touch me on a deeper level, those felt strong made me more invested in the story.

What didn't work for me : the lack of a strong plot, its development and the shallowness of my emotional involvement in character(s). I get that it's not the kind of work that necessarily needs a thick plot, plot twists and stuff like that. Unfortunately, I didn't relate with the characters enough to overlook that aspect. Actually, the only character that I truly cared about was the main character Suzu, and even then, the feeling was not as consistent as I would have liked. I would have enjoyed seeing more of her childhood friend, Rin I believe, but it didn't happen. I'm not saying that I didn't care about what happened to other characters at all, but I wasn't as invested as I'd wish I was. Thus, at several points I felt that the movie was too long and I got a bit bored.

Overall I enjoyed the experience and I do not regret watching it at all. If you like slice of life genre, poetic stories with beautiful visuals carried by an endearing main character, this might very well be the film for you, maybe not, watch it and find out.

Verdict: 6.9/10. This rating isn't an attempt to evaluate the actual objective value of the film but merely reflects my own enjoyment of the work.

Brilliant and compelling

[martyns2012 · 10/10 · 7 May 2020]

Anime at its very best. Starting as a gentle view of life just before the war, goes on the show the stark hardships suffered during the war contrasted with the resilience and strength of ordinary citizens.

In This Corner Of The World frantically captures a young woman's struggle during Japan's darkest years.

[TheMovieDiorama · 7/10 · 24 June 2018]

Japanese animation commonly use World War II as a backdrop for their characters enriched with traditionalisms and virtuous optimism, Ghibli are renowned for it with 'Grave of the Fireflies' and 'The Wind Rises'. Katabuchi manages to encapsulate a coming-of-age drama with historical significance resulting in a hauntingly resonating experience, albeit occasionally stumbling with its own sporadically structured narrative. A young woman is forced into marriage and moves from her rural family village to the bustling city of Kure where she must learn to overcome adulthood amidst the chaos of war. Admirably, what sets this apart from similar dramas is the nuanced undertone of diligence. Chronicling a large portion of one female's life, thrusted into an unadjusted foreign environment, we see this character develop from an innocent girl who loves drawing landscapes to a hardworking woman who tackles ordinary chores. Suzu becomes a commendable personality, a microcosm representing the civilians of Japan and their enduring communal spirit. The animation is gorgeous. Ranging from hand drawn characters expressively showing their emotions to water coloured landscapes depicting the natural beauty of Japan. Various animation changes are injected throughout, particularly during a pivotal scene involving the tragic loss of a child. It is moving in parts, especially the third act, where key events during the war take place such as the Hiroshima bomb explosion. The excess violence is substituted for a more gentle approach, however there are specific frames that illustrate the brutal effects of war. Unfortunately, Katabuchi's narrative structure seems haphazard, as if he is purposefully attempting to convey Suzu's absent mind. Many scenes do not naturally flow and the constant time shifts made the pacing incredibly inconsistent. It just felt unnecessarily frantic. In saying that though, the majestic art style and thematic story certainly negate these detriments.

Disappointing

[Wizard-8 · 4/10 · 23 June 2018]

I usually love anime from Japan, no matter what particular genre it tackles - comedy, drama, horror, science fiction, I enjoy it. However, with this particular anime film, I was severely disappointed with it. I'm not saying that it's a total washout. When it comes to depicting typical Japanese home life during the 1930s and 1940s, the movie is often interesting and insightful. However, when it comes to the main reasons a movie succeeds or fails - mainly with story and characters - the movie simply does not work very well. Even though the movie is over two hours long, it more often than not feels EXTREMELY rushed. Scenes go by so quickly, it's hard to often get a handle on what's going on. That includes the characters - frequently it difficult to know who is who and who is doing what. As a result, it's really hard to care one way or another about what is happening to the characters. As I said, the movie is not without interest, but if you want to see an anime movie about regular Japanese people during World War II, you'd be better off watching "Grave of the Fireflies" or "Barefoot Gen" instead.

Breathtaking and brilliant

[albjj · 10/10 · 19 May 2020]

I have seen many animated Japanese films, and this is up there with the best. It is a little bit different to Hayao Miyazaki's style, which is quite refreshing to be honest. I have to say that this is a masterpiece of animated film making.

Grave of the Fireflies of our time

[Jithindurden · 9/10 · 2 December 2017]

Covering the lives of ordinary people in Japan during WWII through their mundane lives In This Corner of the World is successful in making the audience cry without being melodramatic. Without relying on any political side of the war or the graphic nature of its effects it's the life of ordinary people that is focused here, those who have to live through all the horrors in their own home itself. How the whole world around you is cruel and you can still keep your innocence pure is not shown in a supercilious manner but it can be felt through all the light moments.