Sekai no chûshin de, ai o sakebu

THere is so much to be said about this movie.

Its aesthetically beautiful. It's emotionally pure, powerful, & sad and its heartwarming as well as tearjerking. I won't tell you anything about the story because you probably have already looked into it. Well, if you haven't... DON'T! Don't spoil it for yourself. Find it somehow. Online. IN a store. Anywhere. Its amazing. Breathtaking. Gratifying. At the risk of sounding like more of a fanboy, I'll stop here.

The best Japanese film of 2004 without a doubt & maybe of the last decade.

A must see.

I hope for a region 1 DVD sometime soon.

I've just seen this film yesterday at the University. As a very serious movie fan, I didn't expect anything of the film. Especially, being a typical male and the kind of person who is not too keen into romance movies. However, I was carried away after the first 15 minutes. I've been very busy lately with work but I still couldn't stop thinking about the storyline as I consistently found myself analysing the feelings and emotions from the perspectives of the people who are involved in the story. The philosophical statements in the film have also enforced a huge impact on my mind. They significantly play very important part in the story. I do not want give any more details but I strongly believe that this film should be seen by all movie goers.

This movie is based on a novel written by Katayama Kyoichi. The first print only limited to 8,000 copies but after Shibasaki Kou (that cast Ritsuko) had read it in a occasion, she was deeply impressed and recommend it on a magazine. Hence the rest is history and it had sold over 3 million copies in Japan which beat the sales record of Norway's forest. Due to the heat of the book, the story had bring into the movie which include the top of the crew in Japan movie industry.

Ritsuko role are only add to the movie and not appear in the original novel and the original "Centre of the world" is not in Australia in the book too. However, this movie still touching my heart as I had a common feeling which as I have pass my youth in the same 80 age like Saku and Aki, where walkman is such a precious thing in that time.

The score is very well done and is emotional moving, the main theme by Hirai Ken is excellently with stirring melody.

I highly recommend this movie but sadly it is not easily available in western country except by internet selling like yes.Asia 9 / 10

This is a beautifully shot and profoundly touching film about love and grief. Normally I am not really into sappy romance movies, because many of them insult my intelligence. But this sentimental drama completely captivates me and I cried and cried and cried again.

In "Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World," Saku and Aki are two high school classmates in the 80s. They fall in love and use audio cassettes to record their diaries for each other. However, this romance didn't last forever. And 17 years later, when Saku comes back to his hometown, he is still consumed by his love of his life time.

The film travels between two time lines seamlessly and never slows down on building up the emotion through a brilliant performance by a terrific ensemble cast. I believe in and feel the love between the characters, which is why I am so deeply moved by their love story.

As a rule, I avoid romance tales and this one was nearly no exception. I didn't see it in the theaters when it was out last year, even though friends recommended it. Just by chance, I rented the DVD. It is available in Japan with English subtitles. Now, after several days, I can't stop thinking about it.

Sakutaro is a man in his mid-thirties about to marry Ritsuko, a woman in her late twenties. While getting ready to move, Ritsuko encounters an old audio cassette tape she forgot she had. Though she knew what the tape was, she had never heard it. After locating a store that still sells audio cassette players, she listens to it for the first time. It takes her on a pilgrimage to her (and Sakutaro's) childhood home town. She leaves a message telling him that she's going away for a while.

By chance, Sakutaro learns where Ritsuko went and he goes there. He finds himself on a pilgrimage of his own.

I can't proceed much further, but it can be said that this is not a frivolous love story. I deals with the permanence of love in a most touching and original way. I really hope this film finds its way out of Japan. I gave this movie an eight out of ten.