L'île de Giovanni

I just finished watching this about ten minutes ago, and I'm still feeling like I'm about to sob my eyes out.. This movie was so beautiful, I am amazed at the intensity of the storyline. It's sad to see that this was only a taste of what the Japanese went through during this time, but it opens your eyes to the reality through this anime. I'm kind of in awe of how moving this was to me. I watched it thinking it would be a cute little movie, but this was definitely 10/10! Worth watching a hundred times more. I hope you decide to watch this and become as amazed at the beauty of it as I was!!

We have plenty of films depicting WW2, but not as much about when it ended. For the surrendering countries, the end of the war didn't mean peace. Despite the war being over, returning soldiers were still taken as prisoners of war by Soviets, shipped to Siberia as mentioned in the film; families were separated, taken to interment camps, and the conditions killed many.

This movie encapsulates and beautifully illustrates the Japanese experience of the 'end' of WW2. Each character represents a different attitude taken at the time towards duty and country, giving each attitude its justice without bias.

It's amazing to see the history of my German great grandparents reflected in this film, despite it being about Japan; this history is often entirely neglected since they were the bad guys, but through stories like these, we experience these hardships and sufferings overlooked by the world. The film represents both the Japanese and the Soviets as humans, likewise important despite the harm the USSR did to Japan.

The impact is great yet simple, a very enjoyable film, not too heavy yet plucks a few heartstrings still and leaves an impression. The animations is lovely and drives home the themes of the movie.

The latest Japanese anime, based on the fictional account. Following the Japan's surrender during the World War II, the narration concentrates how the people are affected by the consequences of the war. The movie opens with the two elderly people heading towards their childhood village, recalling their memories. The entire movie was from the children's perspective of what they have seen.

The story of two young boys living in a remote island of the Japan. Who are obsessed with the toy trains and hopes see them in real one day. When Soviet invades the island and forced to live under their rule with coexist. The life remains unaffected, the children go to the school as usual, where these two boys meet the young Russian blonde girl and befriends. What comes after is the struggle that becomes a lot tougher by the days come and surviving becomes challenging.

It was not a top notch anime as I was expecting, but had a decent storyline and the characters. Still, it was a traditional presentation and so pleasant to watch. Somewhat it reminds the 'Grave of the Fireflies', but comparable with that, it was only the less emotionally appealing. The end really got me, I felt the depth. The strong conclusion was the movie's strength, otherwise I would have not liked the flick this much. Yet, I am not sure whether everybody going to like it or not, but still I suggest it only if you're convinced by other than my review too.

6½/10

It's just kind of boring, so and so I think it's most because the children protagonist are not that the interesting, and because of we don't have, Interesting point of view character, everything else just became kind of meth.

Production level it looks very good and the character design has a soft child Effect to it, and The Shadows were really good.

Just a bit too childish for my liking her like that adult characters to be the main viewpoint, but it is so and so.

Kind of weird out by how it tries to be beautiful and optimistic even if something horrible is happening. It's kind of absurd at some point, but maybe in a children's eyes. It's not so bad after all.

A dramatic yet heart-warming story of cross-cultural friendship among children in the aftermath of WWII, presented by Tokyo-based award-winning animation studio Production I.G. Based on true events.

I thought the movie was good and emotional. Thats all there is to it.