This anime was recently featured in the "Animation Nation 2007", organised by the Singapore Film Society. My brother went for the screening (so sad I couldn't go due to work...) and he highly recommended it to me. Lucky for me, he managed to buy the DVD (his current expensive hobby) or I would have missed this fantastic anime!
5 Centimetres Per Second (秒速５センチメートル) is "a chain of short stories about distance". The movie is named for the speed at which cherry blossom petals fall - Petals being a metaphorical representation of humans, reminiscent of the slowness of life and how people often start together but slowly drift into their separate ways. This Japanese animated feature film is by Makoto Shinkai, a very talented artist. The film consists of three segments: Ōkashō (桜花抄), Cosmonaut (コスモナウト), and Byōsoku 5 Senchimētoru (秒速5センチメートル). Together, they narrated the journey of Tono Takaki (the male lead) on a path of loneliness and self-realisation, chaining up one of the most beautiful story I have ever seen.
Other than "Millenium Actress" by Satoshi Kon, this has got to be one of my most favourite animated featured film for its fabulous storyline, cinematography, script, pace, depth and emotions. The use of fine details, contrasts and interactions between the characters' expressions, body language and backgrounds added amazing realism that would evoke our genuine feelings for them. The theme song was wonderfully selected as well and enhanced the mood and flavour of the film. Here's the last three verses of the song, "One more time, one more chance":
"いつでも捜しているよ どっかに君の姿を
明け方の街 桜木町で
こんなとこに来るはずもないのに
願いがもしも叶うなら 今すぐ君のもとへ
できないことは もう何もない
すべてかけて抱きしめてみせるよ
いつでも捜しているよ どっかに君の破片を
旅先の店 新聞の隅
こんなとこにあるはずもないのに
奇跡がもしも起こるなら 今すぐ君に見せたい
新しい朝 これからの僕
言えなかった「好き」という言葉も
いつでも捜してしまう どっかに君の笑顔を
急行待ちの 踏切あたり
こんなとこにいるはずもないのに
命が繰り返すならば 何度も君のもとへ
欲しいものなど もう何もない
君のほかに大切なものなど"
"I’m always searching, for your figure to appear somewhere
At dawn on the streets, at Sakuragi-cho
Even though I know you couldn’t be at such a place
If my wish were to come true, I would be at your side right away
There would be nothing I couldn’t do
I would put everything on the line and hold you tight
I’m always searching, for fragments of you to appear somewhere
At a traveller’s store, in the corner of newspaper,
Even though I know you couldn’t be at such a place
If a miracle were to happen here, I would show you right away
The new morning, who I’ll be from now on
And the words I never said: “I love you.”
I always end up looking for your smile, to appear somewhere
At the railroad crossing, waiting for the express to pass
Even though I know you couldn’t be at such a place
If our lives could be repeated, I would be at your side every time
I would want nothing else
Besides you, nothing else matters"
You can see the promotional video for the theme song and anime
here.
Labels: art, emotion, music
