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5 Centimeters per Second

                                        “Hey… They say it’s five centimeters  per second.                                                  The speed at which the sakura blossom petals fall…                                              Five centimeters per second.”

                                                                                       Akari Shinohara

The story takes place in Japan, beginning in the 1990s up until 2008. The central figure of it is Takaki Tōno who devoted his life, heart and soul to a beloved one. The film consists of three episodes: «Cherry Blossom», «Cosmonaut» and «5 Centimeters per Second». Each part shows the development of relations between Takaki and Akari, starting from friendship in elementary school and leading to a deeper love. In a twist of fate the characters are separated but they continue their communication by sending each other long letters filled with desperate desire to see each other again. The first episode shows us the long-awaited meeting and initial confessions of love. We follow the memory of Takaki to look closer at his feelings about Akari. The whole part is covered in snow, sadness and inevitability of separation.

In the second episode the perspective is changing. Now the narrator is Kanae Sumida, a classmate of Takaki, who has been in love with him ever since meeting him in middle school but has never had the courage to confess her feelings. It is clear that Takaki is far from being with Kanae or someone else. The symbolic image of this part is a spaceship that is launched to discover the Solar System. Takaki stresses the loneliness of this metal piece in the desert universe: "It must really be a lonelier journey than anyone could imagine. Cutting through absolute darkness, encountering nothing but the occasional hydrogen atom. Flying blindly into the abyss, believing therein lie the answers to the mysteries of the universe."It is obvious that our main character, like a cosmonaut on a spaceship, is floating outside the boarders of the real world, alone with the recollections of his love.

The last episode offers us a dose of reality. I advise you to watch it yourself and make your own conclusions about the ending. As for me, it left a sensation of a slight disappointment and incompleteness.I would definitely recommend this cartoon to all sophisticated romantics and lovers of deep philosophical drama.

Rating: 8/10

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Magic without Magic

Whisper of the Heart is a Japanese animated film written by Hayao Miyazaki and in 1995 released by  Studio Ghibli. Miyazaki, Father of Totoro, Chihiro, Yubaba, Howl, Sophie and many others, is well-known for the fairy worlds that he creates in his works. Whisper of the Heart stands out because of its simplicity and realistic plot.

Shizuku Tsukishima, the main character of the story, goes to Mukaihara Junior High School. She is fond of reading and writing lyrics for her friends` band.  Her parents are from middle class; father is a librarian, mother and elder sister are both studying at university. Shizuku lives in an ordinary, controlled life but one cat, a stranger and a violin can turn it upside down.This film raises the issues of real friendship, first love, trust and finding yourself. It is a cartoon about children but for adults who want to enjoy their trip down memory lane. If I had to choose only one word to characterize Whisper of the Heart, I would choose Warmth. You feel it while listening to relaxing soundtracks, viewing watercolor landscapes of Tokyo and following the characters` adventures.I would highly recommend this film anyone who wants to have a rest for his soul, to see the beauty in routine life and to remember the simple happiness  of the childhood.

Rating: 10/10

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NOT A STORY BUT A DRAWING. (BROM "LOST GODS")

Gerald Brom is an American gothic fantasy artist and illustrator. If you are an inveterate gamer, you`ll detect his work in such video games as Doom, Diablo, Dungeons & Dragons, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. Prefer to spend evenings in front of the TV? Mr Brom worked as a concept artist in Van Helsing (2004), Scooby-Doo (2002), Sleepy Hollow (1999) and others. But today we are going to talk about one of his books, "Lost Gods".The story takes place in Purgatory where the main character descends into to safe his wife and unborn daughter. Purgatory in this book is a border place for souls who are unable to go to heaven or try to escape hellfire. To make his "Underworld" unique, the author fills it with Gods of different religions, creating an elaborate hierarchy between them. Besides the major religions of the world, Brom demonstrates us divinities that people have forgotten over time condemning them to oblivion. They are weak, embittered and desperate. Moreover, their right to exist is threatened because of the covetous sinners and demons lusting for power. And in this chaos our main character, Chet Moran, fights for Love and Life against Hate and Death.

Which came first: the text or the drawing? It is worth mentioning that the book is illustrated by Brom himself. His works are eerie, creepy, uncanny... but you can't move your gaze. They help to understand the author`s view on the mythology, visualize his ideas. But is the story equivalent to the breathtaking illustrations? Frankly speaking, it is not. The concept is promising but for a non-professional writer it is almost impossible to create the whole new universe and inhabit it with «living» characters. Brom is a master of descriptions; you read his narratives and draw with him a portrait in your mind. But the plot itself is rather primitive and predictable, with lots of plot holes. Dialogues are childish and do not in any manner befit scenes of a bloody battle.

Read or not to read?

If your goal is to enjoy «a film without sound» - this book is for you. If you are seeking for plot twists – just keep on moving.

Rating: 6/10