[REVIEW] Raintree no Kuni
This movie is about a partially deaf girl's struggles fitting in society. Finding romance along the way, she finds someone who loves her truly despite her disability. The beautiful thing about the relationship is they grow together, help each other progress in their struggles. Hitomi (girl), thru Shin's (boy) help, develops confidence in herself, embracing her deafness rather than be embarrassed about it. Shin on the other hand, learns to face the reality of his father's condition. It's a great romance overall.
Although I disagree with the movie's message that "love is kindness, not sacrifice." Initially at the start of the film, love (through a story book called Fairy Game) was presented as a sacrifice, in a really negative light that you don't get anything from it (because the pair from the story book didn't have a happy ending). To me, that's exactly the point, it's supposed to be unconditional. You don't get anything from it, but you love anyway because you choose to, but you sacrifice things anyway because you choose to, because you love. It's not only kindness. It's both kindness and sacrifice going hand in hand.
I just found it quite boring, to be honest. It's full of substance though, I think that's the best part.
Anyway, I saw the MV on Kisumai's channel a few months ago and I wondered why they were using sign language. That song (Saigo mo Yappari Kimi) apparently is the theme for this movie so it makes sense now. THE MUSIC IS AMAZING BTW I have it on repeat. Very beautiful.
Starring: Tamamori Yuta and Mariya Nishiuchi