TGIF. After a week of filling backpacks, packing lunches and getting everyone’s school year off to a bright start, it’s time for some down time, or what I like to refer to as “we time.” The chance for my hard-working husband and I to sit down, put our feet up and relax once the kids are off to bed. The exciting couple that we are, Saturday night is one of our only opportunities to get in a few hours of together time. So when it comes to movie-watching, I tend to be a lot less gracious than I once was (admittedly!) and rarely give in to those car-chasing, bomb-exploding action flicks anymore. (OK, maybe once in a while I do; I’m not entirely selfish.) So when a copy of the just-released Up on Poppy Hill DVD appeared in my mailbox one afternoon, we quickly moved up movie night to mid-week. I have been looking forward to seeing this animated movie since it first appeared in theaters, but never got around to catching it in time. Let’s just say it was well worth the wait–and worth my precious viewing time. Set in 1963 Japan, the story focuses on a developing friendship between Umi, a young Japanese girl and her classmate Shun who are drawn to each other in a way that can only be described as young love. Of course since true love never runs smoothly, their relationship is complicated by the fact that they may, in fact, be related. When an old family photo leads them to uncover the truth, your heart will catch in your throat. I won’t spoil the ending, but be assured that the drama that unfolds will captivate your attention completely. On a side note, this movie tapped into some personal memories of mine that enabled me to mesh the past with the present: my desire to visit Japan someday and “Sukiyaki,” the Japanese song that went to the top of the charts in 1963 and one that my newlywed parents listened to repeatedly. Hearing that song twice during the movie transported me to a happier place and time. After all, isn’t that what going to the movies is all about?
In a Nutshell: A beautifully crafted movie about young love, family and the ties that bind. The perfect story for an end-of-summer weekend.
