Whisper of the Heart Review

 Whisper of the Heart

Whisper of the Heart shines in its artistic beauty, displaying Ghibli at its best when it comes to scene transitions, cinematography, background art and an outstanding OST. It also holds a very tight and grounded screenplay giving the film a distinct character among Ghibli’s other wondrous ventures. It’s final act as well holds a fantastic arc for the main character Shizuku as she attempts to prove to herself she holds worth in the world and to her love interest Seiji displaying an outstandingly real sense of failure when attempting to create art.

The first half of the film however, has some awkward pacing and dialogue. The film knows the destination it wants to get to but drags its heels somewhat with strange decision making from Shizuku and again some odd dialogue. Even during this time the film is still able to display some fantastic art and music with the initial scene in Shiro’s shop in particular standing out. The scene is an amazing showcase of Ghibli’s use of soft world building creating a foundation of the themes and heartbeat of the film while withholding just the right amount of information from the viewer to truly grip them and bring them into the film’s world. This should have been a turning point for the film but some time is still given to the not overly gripping side plot involving the love triangle between Shizuku, Yuko and Sugimara. Despite this aspect of the film not being particularly amazing the screenplay itself is tight. 

The characters and their actions are grounded and not overly dramatic giving the film and its subsequent romance plot a lot more weight due to its sense of reality. It is this remarkable groundedness that makes it somewhat of an outlier in Ghibli’s filmography while giving a different level of soulfulness.

The true awakening moment of the film is when Shizuku and Seji perform Country Roads. Their discussion in this scene about Seji’s love for his craft and the connection he feels for his artistry being self-critical of himself yet still displaying a sense of confidence and joy when he performs with Shizuku. The second half of the film when Shizuku feels this true bond between herself and Seji pushing her to finally create something of her own to prove she is not a burden to her new lover is wonderful.

Shizuku’s arc through the third and final act of the film is immense. Her dedication to her craft and true love for the world and story she’s making is reflected well with amazing shot work and scene transitions when her story is so vividly brought to life in her head with Ghibli’s first foray into the use of digital composition during the flying scene with Shizuku and The Baron with it hugely paying off with the most spectacular sweeping shot in the movie. The connection that is made between Shizuku and Seji during this time as well before he leaves and even while he is in Italy is incredibly heart-warming to watch. The two truly connect with each other over their respect and dedication to their art and how that reflects itself within their relationship. The scene during the closing minutes of the film when Seji wants to prove his strength and dedication to Shizuku by cycling with her up the hill and then how she helps him to prove the same thing is particularly great.

Despite some of it’s awkward pacing during the first act and even some parts of the second act the film’s beautiful art and music can keep the audience captivated until the final act when the characters and writers can really spread their wings and allow a fantastic story about the creation of art and the energy and effort it can take to make something while also manufacturing a very real and heart-warming relationship between Seji and Shizuku.

8/10