A review for the anime film "In This Corner of the World" (Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni) contains spoilers

"In This Corner of the World" is a very valuable anime film in style and content, directed by Sunao Katabuchi, which was released in 2016. This film tells the story of the daily life of Suzu Urano, a young lady who in 1944 moves from Hiroshima city to the city of Kure in Hiroshima prefecture to get married. The film takes place during the Second World War and with detail and sensitivity shows the effects of war on the lives of ordinary people. At the same time, it is a Gekiga production.

Story;

The story of the film mainly concentrates on Suzu Urano, a simple and pure-hearted main character. Suzu is a young, artistic and imaginative lady, who loves to draw. When she gets married, she has to adapt herself to a new life and a new family while the war day by day creates more impact on their lives.

The film successfully shows the daily life of Suzu and her family during the war. As the war continuously gets closer and life gets harder, Suzu tries to adapt and not lose her hope. She with morale and strength faces the hardships of life and tries to find the small joys in her daily life.

The other characters of the film are also drawn with detail and honesty. Including Shusaku, Suzu's husband who is a respectful and kind man, also his family and their neighbors, each of whom plays their own role in the story. The relationships between the characters are shown in a natural and believable way, which gives a feeling of reality and closeness to the film.

Appearance and Animation:

The animation style of the film is original and simple hand [drawn] in the Gekiga art style, but at the same time, it is precise and full of details. The colors of the film are soft and calming, which gives a warm and familial feeling to the viewer. The character designs are simple, but they effectively express the feelings and emotions of the characters. The backgrounds of the film are very detailed and show a realistic painting of the daily life of that era. From the buildings and streets to the clothes and items, all the details have been carefully designed to take the viewer back to that era.

Sound and Music;

The music of the film is very effective and suitable with the events of the film. The music stimulates the viewer's senses and increases the impact of the scenes. The use of natural sound effects like the sound of birds and waves and the sound of bombs, further advances the film's feeling.

The Message of the Story;

The film "In This Corner of the World" discusses several important topics, including:

War and its effects on the lives of ordinary people: The film honestly shows how war changes the lives of ordinary people and how much it harms them.

The importance of daily life and small joys: While war and fear have cast a shadow over life, the film still shows the importance of daily life and small joys that can give hope and resilience to people.

Memory and the legacy of war: In the film, it encourages the viewer to think about the memories of war and its legacies, and to learn from the past to prevent the repetition of mistakes.

Hope and endurance in times of hardship: Despite the hardships of war, Suzu and her family are an example of hope and endurance. They show that even in the hardest conditions, hope and strength can be found.

In the end, the film "In This Corner of the World" is an effective and heart-shaking anime film that with detail and sensitivity tells the story of the lives of ordinary people during the Second World War. The film, in terms of art and storytelling, is very strong and can move the viewer's feelings and emotions. This film, for everyone who wants to understand war and its effects, as well as the importance of hope and endurance in times of hardship, is a must-see. I recommend it for all anime fans.