Whisper of heart and seven rules of life

Whisper of the Heart (Yoshifumi Kondo - sadly, this would be the only film he was to direct before he passed away) opens with a series of shots of suburban Tokyo, with 'Country Roads' playing all the while. We are introduced to Shizuku Tsukishima, a young girl just about to graduate from Junior High School. She spends her time daydreaming, reading books and writing lyrics for songs, including her own version of 'Country Roads'. A series of chance encounters leads her to meet another boy in her year called Seiji Amasawa, who long ago decided he wanted to be a master violin maker. He is so dedicated to his dream, that he is travelling to Italy after Junior High to fulfil his dream. Determined to find her dream and follow her direction just like Seiji, Shizuku decides to become a writer, and begins a fantasy tale based on a peculiar cat figurine called the Baron, owned by Seiji's grandfather. Although she finds him infuriating at first, Shizuku and Seiji's friendship blossoms into a tentative romance.

This film is a story of firsts - Shizuku and her friends deal with first love, first crushes, the first 'dramas' that come with leaving the innocence of childhood. I found this film full of tender moments, not least of which was a scene involving a 'Country Roads' duet. Part of what makes this film so successful is that Shizuku is such a relatable character. She is at a crossroads in her life, facing a transition that often leaves everyone full of uncertainties.  Shizuku and Seiji's urge to create, their need to find a direction, is something that speaks to everyone, and the way they throw themselves into chasing their dreams is incredibly endearing.