Ikoku Nikki (2024)

Biased manga reader reviews:

The film version effectively succeeds at building the melodrama of an awkward and stilted family relationship between a niece and estranged aunt after her parents' death. I found many parts charming, making the messy parts of becoming familiar and closer to one another when your worlds are very far apart an enjoyable experience. I do feel the manga did this better, nonetheless, I loved seeing the same characters come to life on the screen.

Note, not all parts from the original series were adapted to screen, but understandable considering the run time, and the original story being very character focused, introspective and full of internal conflicts. Watch this film without expecting that you'll be watching what's in the manga come to life exactly as you would like, but do so for the sweet moments of trying to understanding worlds that are much different from your own, the focus here being disassembling the child's view of what being a grown-up means.

Read More