Every year people around the country get excited for the next magical Pixar cinematic experience but in Japan that excitement is usually reserved for the next film by Studio Ghibli, a studio that still hand draws their animated features. Like Pixar, they’re a company that knows how to make quality films that can entertain the masses and their latest feature by director Goro Miyazaki and screenwriter Hayao Miyazaki (the one and only), From Up On Poppy Hill, does just that.
Set in Yokohama in 1963, Japan is prepping its country to host the Olympics, rebuilding after the devastation of WWII and trying to beautify the country for the modern era. The rebuilding of the country affects everyone, including students at a high school where the administration wants to tear down the school’s clubhouse called the Latin Quarter, a rustic and dirty building where all the clubs from the school reside. It is here where the story begins as two students, Umi and Shun, form a relationship and as it continues to blossom a secret from their past emerges drawing the two apart. From Up on Poppy Hill chronicles the preservation of the Latin Quarters, Umi and Shun’s relationship and their quest for answers and clarity.
Miyazaki’s latest film explores the power of perseverance and overcoming your obstacles no matter the hurdles. In the film, Umi raises flags in her yard hoping that one day she’ll get a response from the sea even though her father’s ship was sunk during the Korean War. Now with her mother gone she is the caretaker of her home where she resides with the rest of her family, focusing on taking care of them while excelling in school. In a hilarious interaction where she meets Shun for the first time, the two take a liking to each other and it throws a wrench in Umi’s routine. Similar to Umi, Shun is a hard working teen dedicated to saving the Latin Quarter through his power as a member of the Literature Club which puts out the school newspaper. What I found to be the most interesting was that as things improved for the Latin Quarter so did things with Umi and Shun’s relationship, but as more hurdles were thrown in the “save the Latin Quarter” project, that’s when their relationship became strained. There was a direct correlation between the success and failures of the project and the potential love affair.
Despite this being a very family friendly film, there is a shocking plot twist that would unsettle even the most liberal of parents watching this movie with their kids. I don’t want to spoil what the moment is because eventually, and as expected, the film returns to the realm of normalcy but let’s just say this is something you’d never find in an American animated film and a twist you’d expect to see in an Asian thriller.
Excluding the usually interesting plots, the main reason I watch a Studio Ghibli film is bec
ause they are absolutely stunning to look at. The level of artistry is always impressive and the visual wonder that you feel as you are taken through the animated world is simply amazing and, once again, its show in From Up on Poppy Hill. It’s a colorful and spellbinding ride that absorbs you into the film and keeps you in it until the credit are finally over and not a minute before.
I personally watched the original Japanese version with English subtitles on Blu-ray since dialogue is sometimes lost or altered in the translated version but no matter which language you watch the film in Blu-ray is definitely the way to go, especially with the vivid colors that are used throughout the film.
Overall, From Up on Poppy Hill is a trip worth taking if you get the chance. It takes you back to that glorious moment during your childhood where you fall for someone for the first time and then takes you through the tribulations of that potential relationship while incorporating other elements of drama that’ll throw you off. In the end it’s another winner from Studio Ghibli and a pleasant film that I would recommend to everyone.
Film Rating: A really sweet film that takes a gentle approach to a childhood romance (7/10)
First off, as mentioned earlier, the film looks absolutely stunning and watching it in Blu-ray is absolutely the way to go, especially to see all of the textures of the various backgrounds used throughout the film that look more like paintings than set pieces.
As for the special features, there is over three hours of content and it is all broken down below:
Original Japanese Version of the Film
Feature-length Storyboards (1:30:51) This shows the entire film in storyboard form.
Celebrity Cast Recording Featurette (21:48) Gives us a look at the English voice cast recording some of their parts with interviews with each cut throughout. The English cast includes Gillian Anderson, Sarah Bolger, Beau Bridges, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Fuhrman, Christina Hendricks, Ron Howard, Chris Noth, Emily Osment, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Saxton, Alex Wolff and Anton Yelchin
Interview with Goro Miyazaki (17:37) Director Miyazaki discusses the background of the film, the setting, the manga, and more general information about the creation of this wonderful film.
Music Video for “Summer of Farewells” (5:45)
Yokohama Featurette – Stories of the Past and Present (22:36) – A look at the city of Yokohama which offers some history lessons, a travelogue-esque look at the city and its relationship to the film.
Original Japanese Trailers and TV Spots (7:11)
US Trailer (2:25)
Press Conference from Hayao Miyazaki (39:33) – This press conference announced the theme song for the movie and takes place after the devestating Japanese earthquake and tsunami that rocked the country.
Speech from Hayao Miyazaki (6:14) – Hayao Miyazaki offers up some remarks to his colleagues after the official staff screening of the film. The video is a bit dark but there’s some nice content here.
16 Page Bookley including a letter by Goro Miyazaki and an Excerpt from the Original Project Proposal by Hayao Miyazaki – The booklet also features some really nice artwork and stills from the film.
Disc Rating: 7.5/10
From Up On Poppy Hill is now available on Blu-ray and DVD from GKids and Cinedigm
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