All we need is love
Whisper of the Heart
The dreamy romantic drama from Studio Ghibli is based on real-life Tokyo and features books, a mysterious cat and an unforgettable version of “Country Roads”. The film was directed by Yoshifumi Kondô, Miyazaki’s would-be successor who died just after releasing his far too rarely shown debut.
One evening, 14-year-old Shizuku Tsukishima discovers that Seiji Amasawa, a boy she doesn’t know, has been reading the same library books as her. She imagines Seiji to be a fellow soul mate, while her encounters with real-life classmates are anything but romantic. No matter, for daydreamy Shizuku is more interested in stories anyway, whether in fairytale books or in her own neighbourhood. For example, her Japanese adaptation of John Denver’s famous song “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is about the “Concrete Roads” of West Tokyo. And instead of bringing her father his lunchbox, she prefers to follow a mysterious cat to an antique shop full of fascinating objects.
The storyboards for “Whisper of the Heart” (“Mimi no sumaseba”) were created by Hayao Miyazaki and are based on Aoi Hiiragi’s manga of the same name. However, Miyazaki left the direction to animator and character designer Yoshifumi Kondô, whom he foresaw as his successor at the time. Sadly, Kondô passed away in 1998. Nevertheless, his only feature-length film gives the audience an idea of the direction in which Studio Ghibli could have moved.
Set in the everyday reality of the hilly neighbourhood of Tama New Town, the coming-of-age story interweaves the turbulence of first love with the question of how dreams for the future can be reconciled with one’s own creative abilities. Ghibli fans will discover several homages to Miyazaki’s earlier films in the elaborate backgrounds. (Oswald Iten)
One evening, 14-year-old Shizuku Tsukishima discovers that Seiji Amasawa, a boy she doesn’t know, has been reading the same library books as her. She imagines Seiji to be a fellow soul mate, while her encounters with real-life classmates are anything but romantic. No matter, for daydreamy Shizuku is more interested in stories anyway, whether in fairytale books or in her own neighbourhood. For example, her Japanese adaptation of John Denver’s famous song “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is about the “Concrete Roads” of West Tokyo. And instead of bringing her father his lunchbox, she prefers to follow a mysterious cat to an antique shop full of fascinating objects.
The storyboards for “Whisper of the Heart” (“Mimi no sumaseba”) were created by Hayao Miyazaki and are based on Aoi Hiiragi’s manga of the same name. However, Miyazaki left the direction to animator and character designer Yoshifumi Kondô, whom he foresaw as his successor at the time. Sadly, Kondô passed away in 1998. Nevertheless, his only feature-length film gives the audience an idea of the direction in which Studio Ghibli could have moved.
Set in the everyday reality of the hilly neighbourhood of Tama New Town, the coming-of-age story interweaves the turbulence of first love with the question of how dreams for the future can be reconciled with one’s own creative abilities. Ghibli fans will discover several homages to Miyazaki’s earlier films in the elaborate backgrounds. (Oswald Iten)
Info
Duration 111'
Country JP, 1995
Appointments & Tickets
Thu 5.9. • 14:00
Cinema Trafo 3*
Sat 7.9. • 10:00
Cinema Trafo 1**
Sun 8.9. • 12:00
Cinema Trafo 1**
trailer
Curated by
Oswald Iten, Erik van Drunen, Ivana Kvesić