Suzume

If anyone can assume the mantle from Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki as the world’s greatest anime director, it would be Makota Shinkai, whose shimmeringly beautiful work includes the box office sensation Your Name (2016) and the gorgeous eco fable Weathering With You (2019). His most recent film, Suzume, is a typically wacky mix of first love/coming-of-age tale, supernatural spectacle, environmental fable and adventure film, too complex to attempt to summarize, but never less than dazzling to look at. There’s a mischievous cat from another dimension, a hero who is fused with a chair, a 17-year-old heroine dealing with childhood loss, a snaky red monster portending doom…

Shinkai’s rarely screened 2007 film, 5 Centimeters Per Second, is also showing in this season.

Soaring in scope and cute as a kitten.

Leslie Felperin, Hollywood Reporter

The film is consistently delightful, offering up an unrelenting supply of shimmering, sun-dappled visuals and a sweet, strange story about a young girl making peace with her past.

Ross MacIndoe, Slant magazine

Suzume is perhaps Shinkai’s most spookily beautiful work to date, while remaining treasurably odd.

Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph

Media Partner

Community Media Partner

Community Partner