The town's children are the main characters - they study, socialize and scare each other - but that doesn't mean viewers don't catch glimpses of adult life and troubles as well. Soya and Hiromi both grow and change during the film - it's a bit like watching a plant grow from a seed to a bloom. Enjoy it as it happens. I think it would be an easy film to re-watch every so often just as it is charming to look at pictures from your youth.
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Despite the boring plot, that basically consists of Soyo saying the wrong things to the wrong people and trading her first kiss for Hiromi’s jacket, it was kind of pleasant. The village is small and time seems to pass by slowly. It gives you the sense that everything is peaceful and relaxing. It’s the kind of movie where it reteaches you the values of friendship and puppy love.
It doesn’t have a dynamic plot, which most people like. It is more scenic, quiet, and dealing with the small things that happen in a village where everyone has known each other since birth. It wasn’t that bad of a movie, just one where I had to force myself to finish it. And I only did so because of Masaki Okada.
Music: In addition to an almost non-existent plot, the music is pretty much the same: non-existent.
Cast/Acting: I mentioned earlier that parts of the movie were awkward. I don’t mean the director or the script. There was a scene where Soyo wanted to kiss Hiromi, but never having really kissed a boy before she’s bad and they bump teeth. Kaho and Masaki Okada were very good at acting as an awkward couple and being out of place. They are both amazing actors and had such great chemistry. He really seemed like a horny boy from Tokyo, being forced to live in the sticks. Well, he isn’t really ‘horny’ per say. He tries to kiss Soyo several times without her realizing it, or really wanting it (at the moment). She even catches him talking on the phone about their interactions to his friends in the city.
The extended cast was great too. The other school children all seemed very close and did a great job acting as friends too. You don’t really see much of the parents, expect for Soyo’s and Hiromi’s mother.
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Since it is a slice of life set in rural Japan, expect a slow paced story, which captures the rhythm of a rural community. It is enjoyable to watch the relationship among the characters, especially that of Soyo and the youngest girl in their school.
Acting: Great performance from newcomers Kaho and Masaki Okada. Kaho especially did well in portraying a teen girl struggling to face her newfound feelings for a new acquaintance.
Music: Ending song performed by Quruli is the best!
Watch it when you're in the mood for lighthearted, tender, slow paced, coming-of-age romantic drama. I really recommend you watch it. It's a joy in the heart.
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Heartwarming coming of age story in a rural village.
A coming of age film that feels warm and cool like the film setting, also wrapped in a love story that is innocent and not prominent but calming.Actually, around first 30 minutes we are brought to know the characters and also adapt to be comfortable with the setting. There are really not many characters here, only 6 school students, few teachers, along with character families and other villagers. And the focus is on friendship of the students, with a little subplot that feels no exaggeration from the other characters and gradually converges to between Soyo and Osawa, our couple.
After that 30 minutes we begin to dive into the adolescent story of Soyo, a girl who is in the process of reaching maturity, knowing love, the way the world works, etc. which is presented like a flowing river flowing calmly.
As the title suggested, the village atmosphere in this film feels cool, full of gentle breeze and warm. It describes the condition of the village well, many rice fields, forests and houses are not close together. The main thing is the vibe of a village is very pronounced in this film, because I've been lived in a village and the feeling when I was watch it feels very similar like when I used to walk around the village, near rice field or farm and some village places. They did a good job in this aspect.
All the characters acting feels natural, the role of every character are also suitable like the people in the real village.
I don't know what to say anymore, I love this film but I can't put another words in my mind into this review. Maybe for the last I'll say this film feels relateable that I feel cozy when watch it and that's why I love it.
Overall, one of the best coming of age film I've watched, and also has the best setting.
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This review may contain spoilers
A cathartic experience
A Gentle Breeze in the Village is a cathartic movie. I had no idea what this movie was about and walked into it blindly, but the moment I started, all the pent-up emotional stress just exhaled from my body. It was like a spiritual experience I go through with these types of Japanese movies, where my whole nervous system gets reset.
Plot**
The story revolves around a small group of students in a tiny coastal village where there are only six students in the entire school, ranging from first grade to eighth grade. Everything changes when a new student from Tokyo, named Soyo, joins the eighth grade.
The movie itself is not overly dramatic. The main focus is on the students, their lives, and the little hurdles they face while growing up. The film is divided into small chapters, each centered around a specific time, such as summer, school trips, and New Year festivals. It beautifully portrays their growth, the changes they experience, their adventures in finding love, and rediscovering the world outside, including their affection for their home, all while evoking feelings of nostalgia and the slow passage of time.
The pacing of the movie strikes a perfect balance; it’s not too slow but also not too fast. It encourages viewers to sit back and enjoy the beauty of everyday life in Japan.
The cinematography was stunning, capturing that sense of nostalgia, and evoking that desire to escape to rural Japan to embrace this simple living. The visuals are stunning, with great attention to nature; the greens and blues of the landscape, and a spacious composition around the subjects that allows for an appreciation of the setting. The houses, roads, and buildings blend so harmoniously that at times they resemble a beautiful painting. The editing is also very realistic with no use of heavy filters, maintains strong realistic feel, making you feel as if you are truly in the village, experiencing the warmth of the sun.
Throughout the film, I found myself completely relaxed and fully immersed in the experience. It was a beautiful reminder to appreciate a slower pace of life, free from the distractions of the modern world. The scenes are peaceful, without anything overly stimulating. Even when certain scenes are set in Tokyo, the camera primarily focuses on the characters, minimizing the chaotic background of the bustling city. This contrast is particularly evident when Soyo first arrives in Tokyo and finds herself in a crowded station, surrounded by people moving at a frantic pace, like a swarm of bees. That was the moment when I truly noticed the how incredbly peaceful the pace of the movie been and the contrast between the two settings..
Overall, **A Gentle Breeze in the Village** is an exquisite piece of art. If you enjoy watching slice-of-life stories set in Japan and seek a soulful experience, this movie is definitely for you.
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Yes i know there is no huge plot to the story, but i still really enjoyed watching it because its just so loveley and cheesy.
The filming locations are really pretty and the movie overall gives off a nice and refreshing summer vibe.
I also don't think that the story is completly hollow, because there's still many things happening and going on - i don't remember it getting boring for me while watching .
I rated the music a 5.0 because i can't remember any of it
(don't be put off by the word cheesy - it's not that bad i promise)
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Story : Honestly , there is nothing much to talk about it. It just depicts some routine-happenings in their village .
Acting : one gets to see the young,handsome okada masaki in it.( It was one of the reasons why i watched it ).the acting was lively and happening.It was like they just showed a piece of a village in Japan .
Overall , the movie was pleasant to watch but the after-effect was not so intense. The ending could have been more clear for i expected a happily-ever-after kind of climax but it is evident by now that it isn't .
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ADMIREABLE, LOVELY, BEAUTIFUL, SIMPLE, AND GENUINE.
TIPE FILM KESUKAAN GUE BANGET???gue selalu suka sama drama-drama remaja (youth) yang pure, naive, dan innocent kayak gini--kayak ARRGHHH GEMES SUPER LUVLY. seperti apa yang terdengar dalam judulnya, film ini nerbener nyejukin hati.
secara keseluruhan, film ini tuh cuma menceritakan kisah cinta monyet gadis remaja desa yang naksir sama anak baru pindahan dari kota. just like linda, linda, linda (2005), film ini engga bakal memberikan dinamika plot yang gimana-gimana. tapi gatau gimana ya, Nobuhiro Yamashita seperti punya magis sendiri kalau udah mengangkat kisah anak remaja. dia berhasil menggiring penonton (khususnya gue) buat throwback ke masa kecil dulu. kalaupun lo gapernah hidup di desa, film ini 100% murni ajib banget karena nerbener bisa membawa ademnya suasana di sana sampe tembus layar HAHAHA si lebay. zuzurly gue naksir parsssssssssssss.
visualnya cantik parah huhuhuhu pengambilan shotnya, tone & gradingnya, semuanya cakeppp! bikin pengen pergi ke desa yang masih semurni itu t_____t scoringnya manissss. ost di credit scenenya juga gemes huhuhu
menjelang ending w agak mau mewek gitu karena AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
gue saranin si nonton film ini di hari minggu pas lagi leyeh leyeh :D
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um filme calmo sem pressa para crescer, aproveitando cada momento
tem algo especial em filmes de romance como este, o desenvolvimento é tão sutil que você só sente o romance nascendo, não é bem uma cena ou um dialogo, ele só acontece na sua frenteé claro que esse filme além de um romance é uma historia muito fofa da Soyo e sua ligação tão íntima e profunda que ela tem com sua escola, representando sua infância, que inevitavelmente vai ficar no seu passado, e a cena final dela na sala com Osawa encapsula isso muito bem.
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