Boku to Tsuma no 1778 no Monogatari ~ 僕と妻の１７７８の物語
On the cold rainy Sunday, what made it more gloomy than watching a tear jerker? Seriously, tissue box is needed for this flick. I normally don't watch Kusanagi Tsuyoshi's work because... I don't like him, period, not hate, but just don't understand where his charm lies. So how I ended up watching this one? Oh, I don't like Kusanagi but I love Takeuchi Yuko, so yes this is one of the rare movies that I watch because of the female lead. So, how the movie fares?
The movie is based on the true story of a sci-fi writer, Taku Mayumura. In the movie, we have the sci-fi writer, Sakutaro and his wife, Setsuko. They're happily married though with no children. One fine day, Setsuko had a stomach ache. Thinking that she might be pregnant, she went to hospital alone and Saku got the call from hospital later on, only to find out that his wife had cancer and had 1 year left to live (yeah, we should have known, the movie title gave you the hint). Saku, later, basing on thought of laughing builds the immunity hence prolong one's life, decided to write a story a day for his dear wife. He called it fiction, Setsu called it essay, yet time passed by and Setsu survived year by year, until we came to year 4. Setsu's condition worsen, but Saku, clinging to the hope for Setsu recovery, keep on writing the stories until at the end he's written 1,778 stories for her.
Now, I still don't like Kusanagi, but I totally forget about my dislike for him and engrossed for almost 2.5 hours in front of TV with my tissue box (yeah, it's a very long movie!) but fret not, you won't feel anything draggy in here because you'll be busy sniffling and snorting. With beautiful background, sceneries, and special effect, the movie will suck you into Saku's world of imagination and though he's always been fascinated with robot and their futuristic aspects as he's a sci-fi writer, you can still feel his love and adoration for Setsu. This, makes all Saku and Setsu's chemistry seems so real. Even the married couple fight is heartbreaking, well, they're fighting about Setsu's cancer treatment cost, so, yeah, it's heartbreaking, and especially when Saku couldn't find Setsu in the house, that quiet moment of him waiting for Setsu really emulates his fear of losing Setsu. Throughout movie you'll root for Saku, you'll be curious like Setsu (perhaps), what Saku will write next, and how he fought till the end against his fear and also how dearly he loved Setsu.
What makes you bawl more is Setsu's feelings and expressions thoroughout the whole journey. From the moment she found out she has cancer, she somehow already knew that she won't live long but played along with her husband's hope for her survival. She went through all the treatment while keeping the house in tact because she didn't want to burden Saku more than she already had. She felt the frustration when her body kept on weakening until to the point towards the end that she couldn't even hold Saku's manuscript and Saku had to read his story for her. Setsu's fear and regret are also heartbreaking as she still had a lot of things that she wanted to do, be a mother, read more of Saku's stories, see his books at the bookstore, grow old with him, so much that she's so scared she won't be able to do those. But what hits me is Setsu words, not in exact word but it's something like, I'd rather not living if it burdens you. These words hit me hard because it reminds me of what my late mom uttered not long before her passing, and what's more Setsu carries the same expression as she said that, so yeah... I reached for more tissues.
The last bawling moment is when Saku start writing chapter 1778, the last chapter. He kept on writing but the pen didn't really hit the paper, so you'll see a blank paper instead. That moment is so private that Saku only want Setsu to be his one and the only reader as Setsu has been always his first reader but now she's not there anymore. Do note Saku's expression as he's writing this last chapter, you can feel how much Saku loves his wife, and with that last chapter, it seems that Saku is bidding farewell to Setsu.
And now I seriously need something happy... Arashi ni Shiyagare? Himitsu no Arashi-chan? Bring it on!