Suzume is an uncommon film, for it represents complete technical mastery, and a daring, bold artistry in trying to imbue a fantasy film with deep meaning. While it succeeds on the technical front, Suzume might be biting off more than it can chew in the handling of its story
Suzume represents the pinnacle of perfection when it comes to animation. It is stunningly and strikingly animated. It is meticulously made- the detailing is impeccable, and the image lush and saturated. They are a unique visual spectacle- the closest comparison I can find is ratatouille. Indeed, The visuals have an almost photorealistic quality to them, but pulled back one dimension so an idealised quality can be embedded, making them pleasing and striking to look at. Only in Makoto Shinkai films would ancient ruins and potholes look beautiful.
When it comes to plot, The film can really be separated into two. The first half is an agreeable, albeit more traditional adventure/ road film, focusing on the endearing and charming human connections Suzume makes with other people along the way(the bar owner/ the high school student), and the "fun" and adventure factor in their journey. The second section of the film becomes considerably more sombre and sentimental, as the stakes are now heightened with Soutas life on the line. My first gripe of the film is in here- it's lethargic pacing in the second half. The film loses too much energy after the climax in the middle that audiences become disoriented. We have no clear goal exactly of what Suzume is supposed to do now, or why she is going to do what she's doing now. The plot also seems contrived in muddling up character motivations- why is suzume so motivated in saving souta? Does she really love this man who was a stranger to her into a few days ago? The film never offers anything close to answer to these questions.
But I think the significance of Suzume is that it is unusual, and even daring, for it represents an effort from Makoto Shinkai to make a film of heightened maturity and emotion. The writing, however, does not allow for this to be fully realised. It seems Our main character speaks almost exclusively in monologue and in banal dialogue. The writing also feels substandard. The film attempts to touch on several important issues of bereavement and sacrifice but it never fully fleshes or examines this problem fully. Consider the scene where the aunt has an outburst on how she sacrificed 10 years of her life to care for Suzume. In the hands of a superb writer, this scene could have been a dramatic tour de force. Here it is merely briefly acknowledged, not further explored, and never even mentioned again. Another issue to analyse is the main theme of bereavement in the film. The director has said the film was made for those who lost loved ones in the 2011 Japanese earthquake. The problem, however, with trying to explore these weighty emotional issues in a fantasy Children's film is that the bizzare plot of such a fantasy film does not allow for these themes to be punctuated fully. Indeed the film relies overly on metaphors to explore its theme. Suzume steps into the ever after to find her lost, younger self and help this younger self come to terms with their mothers death. But Shinkai offers no concrete ways for us to access our "lost selves"- the metaphorical meaning of the door to this ever after is nebulous at best.
Suzume is an absolutely captivating film because of the superlative visuals. But it is also simultaneously infuriating, for its relies too much on emotions and tugging on the heartstrings, rather than on a serious examination of its themes. Makoto Shinkai has definitely made a mature film here. But i would hesitate in labelling Suzume as thoughtful or insightful.
Suzume represents the pinnacle of perfection when it comes to animation. It is stunningly and strikingly animated. It is meticulously made- the detailing is impeccable, and the image lush and saturated. They are a unique visual spectacle- the closest comparison I can find is ratatouille. Indeed, The visuals have an almost photorealistic quality to them, but pulled back one dimension so an idealised quality can be embedded, making them pleasing and striking to look at. Only in Makoto Shinkai films would ancient ruins and potholes look beautiful.
When it comes to plot, The film can really be separated into two. The first half is an agreeable, albeit more traditional adventure/ road film, focusing on the endearing and charming human connections Suzume makes with other people along the way(the bar owner/ the high school student), and the "fun" and adventure factor in their journey. The second section of the film becomes considerably more sombre and sentimental, as the stakes are now heightened with Soutas life on the line. My first gripe of the film is in here- it's lethargic pacing in the second half. The film loses too much energy after the climax in the middle that audiences become disoriented. We have no clear goal exactly of what Suzume is supposed to do now, or why she is going to do what she's doing now. The plot also seems contrived in muddling up character motivations- why is suzume so motivated in saving souta? Does she really love this man who was a stranger to her into a few days ago? The film never offers anything close to answer to these questions.
But I think the significance of Suzume is that it is unusual, and even daring, for it represents an effort from Makoto Shinkai to make a film of heightened maturity and emotion. The writing, however, does not allow for this to be fully realised. It seems Our main character speaks almost exclusively in monologue and in banal dialogue. The writing also feels substandard. The film attempts to touch on several important issues of bereavement and sacrifice but it never fully fleshes or examines this problem fully. Consider the scene where the aunt has an outburst on how she sacrificed 10 years of her life to care for Suzume. In the hands of a superb writer, this scene could have been a dramatic tour de force. Here it is merely briefly acknowledged, not further explored, and never even mentioned again. Another issue to analyse is the main theme of bereavement in the film. The director has said the film was made for those who lost loved ones in the 2011 Japanese earthquake. The problem, however, with trying to explore these weighty emotional issues in a fantasy Children's film is that the bizzare plot of such a fantasy film does not allow for these themes to be punctuated fully. Indeed the film relies overly on metaphors to explore its theme. Suzume steps into the ever after to find her lost, younger self and help this younger self come to terms with their mothers death. But Shinkai offers no concrete ways for us to access our "lost selves"- the metaphorical meaning of the door to this ever after is nebulous at best.
Suzume is an absolutely captivating film because of the superlative visuals. But it is also simultaneously infuriating, for its relies too much on emotions and tugging on the heartstrings, rather than on a serious examination of its themes. Makoto Shinkai has definitely made a mature film here. But i would hesitate in labelling Suzume as thoughtful or insightful.