Among the legions of films about high school that I have watched, no movie, animated or not, connects with me the way that Whispers of the Heart does. Considering how much I had already loved Ghibli, the studio that made this film, before watching it, my very positive oppinions about it could have been a bit bias. However, I strongly believe that my deep interest in this adorable story adds to my appreciation of the studio in a way I never expected.
Needless to say, Whisper of the Heart nails the essential that a Ghibli film would never fails at. From the attention to details and world building to the relatable and engaging characters, It’s amazing how they get the audience to invest in the lives of some fourteen-year-olds with a simple, lighhearted and drama-free plot line. The movie centers around a young girl, Shizuku, at a crossroad of her life, trying to figure out who she really is and what she wants to do. Eveything about her story, starting with the exploration of self to the blooming young love, all comes so naturally and smoothly. Then, when we all think that Ghibli would just stick to the real world for the rest of the film, comes the mesmerizing dream sequence in which Shizuku fantasizes about her going into the story that she’s writing. Whisper of the Heart is as magical as it’s grounded in reality.
Many Ghibli films has some supernatural elements that are deeply tied into the story and the relatioships between the characters; however, in the case Whisper of the Heart, John Denver’s hit song, Take me Home, Country Roads, replaces their position instead. Take me Home, Country Road, which is sung in English as well as Japanese with new lyrics produced by our protagonist, is utilized at many crucial points of the film. It is played during the opening sequence, used as a tune for Shizuku’s Concrete Road song and sung by her over Seiji’s violin playing in his grandfather’s shop. For me, Take me Home, Country Road is now Shizuku and Seiji’s theme, constantly reminding me of the beautiful relationship between these two wonderful characters. The film introduced me to the song and made me fall in love with it at the same time.
For me, Whisper of the Heart is very special, alwasy empowering, heart-warming and nostalgic. If you ever have a chance, please try out this film. It might not work for everyone as well as it does for me, but it’s definitely a pleasant film that you can comfortably enjoy for a relaxing day.
A sleepy conscience 