3.5 stars (out of 4)

Released 2011 (in Japan)

This newest offering from Studio Ghibli is currently playing at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto.  I went to see it with a group of friends, one of whom had originally watched the film when it aired at the TIFFestival last September and was now seeing it for the third time!  We had the choice of watching the film with the English dub, but we elected to go with a Japanese-with-subtitles screening.

The story itself, which takes place in the 1960s, is actually quite simple and consists of two plots.  In the one, the students at a Yokohama high school are working to save their clubhouse from demolition; and the other is about the budding romance between the main girl and boy, Umi and Shun.  Unlike previous Ghibli films, which have tended toward fantasy and whimsy, FROM UP ON POPPY HILL is refreshingly more grounded in reality.

The clubhouse is a grand old building which has fallen into disrepair over the years.  Never have I thought that removing dirt and clutter and fixing up a place could look so fun.  The movie certainly succeeds at showing the wonder and rewards of teamwork.

Umi’s relationship with Shun, developing over the course of their shared activities in helping with the clubhouse, is presented in an unhurried and very believable manner.

At one point, the narrative ventures into somewhat risqué territory.  The consensus among my friends (all adults) was that it didn’t go far enough in that direction.  However, keeping in mind that this is intended to be a family film, I thought the relatively safe conclusion was both appropriate and sufficiently satisfying.  And you know?  I wouldn’t mind seeing the movie again sometime.

Edit (April 12):  Please also read Bini’s comment!
Edit 2: Sadly, all comments have been lost as collateral damage during the great spam purge of Feb 2015.