Filhos do Mar

The anime was beautiful and a stunningly presented. The background score was simple and unobtrusive, but soundly reinforced the imagery.

The story itself involves a young girls journey through a single summer, evolving from childhood into adolescence. The major theme is the linking of the cosmic with the mundane and how they are essentially the same. The primary story deals more with the cosmic while the postscript after the ending credits deals with the mundane and links them as equally fascinating.

My major criticism of this film does not involve a lack of artistry within the production as every aspect was exemplary. The problem will be with the Western audiences lack of understanding of Buddhism in general and it's philosophical association with everyday life. What may seem entirely sensical and logically told as a story in Japan may not even be recognized as a such in say North America. Still, I found it highly beautiful and enjoyable. Sadly, others without an understanding of the philosophical underpinnings will not.

I went to see this film, mainly because the French critics were rave and eulogistic. Do I have the right to be honest? I did not understand anything about this overly complex and dreamlike cartoon. This metaphysical fable immerses the audience in the deepest seas, in a stream of visually stunning but incomprehensible sequences. I managed to stay until the end hoping for an explanatory denouement. Thus, I left the movie theater both frustrated and disappointed.

Beautiful tale about nature, magic sea wild connection with humans and universe. Don't try to understand the meaning, just enjoy the mysticism.

Beautiful story and stunning colors, a nice tales of the sea

I see that many viewers of this film dislike the movie for its enigmatic storyline and message, and at first I felt the same way. But the movie and its imagery really stuck with me afterward, and upon reflection, I came up this interpretation:

Perhaps the message the movie is trying to convey is just that: the universe contains vast mysteries that humans do not understand, and perhaps are not capable of ever understanding. We try so hard to bring order to the world by explaining everything with science and reason, but sometimes, that just isn't possible. Sometimes, it may be better to simply marvel at and appreciate the miracles of the universe, from the creation of the stars to the birth of life. That's what I came up with, anyway.

As someone currently studying a scientific field in university, I think this message is very eye-opening. If you are a new viewer, I would suggest not to try to understand the movie so much as to experience and enjoy it!