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A whisper of the heart
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“I never thought I would cry because of country roads”

This film is what made me decide to watch all of the ghibli movies and it's for good reason. I have always loved ghibli, whether it's the dreamlike Howl's moving castle or the melancholy grave of the fireflies but never has a film by the studio struck a chord with me like this. I see now why this is one of Schafrillas productions favorite films. __ The story:｡･:*˚:✧｡ __ Shizuki has to rewrite the lyrics of country roads (I assume for school) and loves to read with little regard for her studies. She keeps noticing the same “Amasawa” in the back of all the books she reads and wants to know who he is. Assuming he is the prince charming she has been wishing for. One day, she meets a boy called Seji and he makes fun of her for her corny lyrics. Oh god, don't let this be the Amasawa she has been looking for!

The story can be a bit predictable at times but it doesn't really make the film any less enjoyable. It's also slow to begin with but definitely picks up the pace and it's worth the wait. This film isn't really one about some amazing story with twists and turns. It's more about the characters.
7/10
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The characters:__｡･:*˚:✧｡
Shizuku:

What can I say about this character other than “she's literally me”. I think one of the reasons I love this film is because I find it so relatable as a writer. Over the years, I have definitely known what it's like to sit down and write for hours. Completely engrossed in the characters that I'm writing. However, I have also known what it's like to be disappointed in my own writing. After hours of creating you read what you have written and it's not as amazing as you wanted it to be. I think the way the film makes these experiences so relatable is what makes this character so great. However, the character does have a few shortcomings. Sometimes, the change in her opinion that can happen very quickly is a little bit jarring. She will go from hating Seiji to loving him in a matter of seconds. This is more of a nitpick though because this can be quite endearing. It's just not great if (like me) you can find tsunderes a bit annoying.

Seiji:

Seiji restored my faith in humanity. I think I like him so much because I'm a little biased. Shizuki is incredibly lucky as it seems that he would follow her to the ends of the earth. His romantic gestures are cheesy but the film acknowledges that and it makes these moments feel all the more special. He is very similar to Shizuki in the fact that he is passionate about something but it never feels like you're good enough. I love how both characters push each other. It's the perfect example of how romantic relationships don't have to stop you from progressing. A truly beautiful relationship is one where you push each other to be better people. 9.5/10

The animation:｡･:*˚:✧｡
It's not surprising that a Ghibli movie has beautiful animation. What I love about this film is that it shows how dull life can often look with the city and Shizukis apartment. However, this makes the important moments stick in my mind because the animation tends to be more magical at these times. This is especially apparent when Shizukis story is brought to life- I found myself getting chills in these moments.
One thing that really caught my eye is the backgrounds. The water color really makes the film feel special.
9.5/10

Score:｡･:*˚:✧｡
Honestly, I hate the song country Roads take me home. When the film started and the song started playing my honest reaction was: “Oh god no.”
Somehow, this film made me like the song. Heck, it almost made me cry in some moments. The orchestral score is also magical and really helps bring the film to life. It's much more stripped back then something like the score of Howl's Moving castle but it's beautiful in its own way.
8/10

Final thoughts: Overall, this is a Ghibli film that I would recommend to anyone who wants a break from the normal romance anime or to anyone who wants to feel inspired. It's a must watch if you have any imagination. 9/10 ┆┆⋆ ⋆

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