Released in 2011 and created by Studio Ghibli, From Up on Poppy Hill (Kokuriko-zaka Kara), was directed by Gorō Miyazaki and written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa. Miyazaki’s father and Niwa created the Agora and Ghibli palace. This was situated in the bomb blast of Japan in the 1960’s. This gentle, yet quiet, melancholic tale flooded the ears of youth who marched through monumental changes of culture during the 1960’s Japan.
Family, memory, youth and renewal wre all prominent, but instead of having a plot full of adventure and fantasy, From Up on Poppy Hill merely touched the surface of human relation. Heartfelt, beautiful and stuffed with hope, the film encesoed very powerful themes of both personal and national identity.
Setting and Historical Context
A year before Japan was to host the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the film is set in Yokohmo in 1963. The moment was the time of world-war reconstruction, and Japan was presented with the ability to modernize. The outlook was energetic and positive, and the image ‘foward looking’ was the country’s hope.
In this case, both the personal lives of the characters and the the personal lives of the characters and the larger social setting of the film reflect the theme.
Plot Summary
The film centers around a highschool student, Umi Matsuzaki, who lives in a boardinghouse, “Coquelicot Manor,” on the hillside of Yokohama harbor. Each morning, Umi rises a set of signal flags in honor of her father, a naval officer killed in the Korean War. She also takes on the role of guardian and manages the household. As guardian, Umi has taken on a household scattered with chores, and has a busy daily schedule of constant schoolwork and other responsibilities.
During school, Umi works with others to help save a Connect 4 Clubhouse called the Latin Quarter. The Latin Quarter, a student club, was used by many other student clubs. Umi has a first encounters with the school newspaper member, Shun Kazama, who was leading and very active in the fight to to save the building.
As acquaintances turned friends, Umi and Shun began cultivating feelings for one another as they began restroing and protecting a club house together. They began their efforts by ubstructing school officials, alongside collecting and cleaning for their case. With every moment spent, they continued working alongside one another which furthered their appreciation for history, proving their dedication and respect.
Their relationship happens to take a more interesting and emotional turn. right when they found out their peculiar father with Shun. This started connecting Umi and Shun. The moment was unexplained but it definetely caught the atraction of one another. With this, they began pondering their answer identity, belonging and if their affection was deep enough to be part of each other’s lives.
It results in Umi trying to protect Shun defensively with Umi’s father’s case. The resolution of the movie showed restraint and refined emotion. Rather than focusing on the past, they decide to value and understand their feelings for each other.
Major Characters
Umi Matsuzaki
Umi is responsible, focused, and caring for others more than herself. Even as a teenager, she takes care of the rest of the family calmly. Her father is deceased, but she keeps a reflection of him alive in her everyday behavior. For her, signaling to the ships in the harbor is a mark of loyalty and love to him. Emotionally, Umi has to learn to do away with the desire to fulfill her duties and comprehend her position in a dynamic world.
Shun Kazama
Shun is passionate, brave, and a go-getter. He is willing to defend whatever he considers right. He believes there is great value in protecting the past and defending important customs. Like Umi, he has unfinished business with the past. Thanks to their hard work, he’s able to achieve his peace of mind. He is also able to showcase his great leadership and very much appreciated for his honesty.
Minor Characters
The numerous side characters of the film include the quirky children of the Latin Quarter, Umi’s caring grandmother, and Shun’s new parents. Every single character, regardless of their short role, increase the richness of the narrative and the impression of the community working in unison.
Themes and Messages
- Remembering the Past
A major theme in From Up On Poppy Hill is the need to remember and to keep history alive, both individually and as a society. The Latin Quarter is a representation of Japan’s heritage and the spirit of enlightenment. While progress is important, the film suggests that moving forward should not mean forgetting our history.
- The Power of Youth
The students in the film take the initiative to organize and fulfill a mission. They are not simply spectators to the changes, but rather participants in the changes. The film demonstrates that young people, as a consequence of their unity and sincerity, can bring about change.
- Identity and Family
Umi and Shun grapple with their sense of identity and belonging as they learn about their ancestry. The film’s narrative offers a gentle and profound take on these themes, suggesting that forging a deeper connection with the past enables us to build a stronger future.
- Love and Respect
Umi and Shun’s growing romance is tender and characterized by mutual respect. Their relationship blossoms as a result of common goals, collaboration, and genuine listening. This is a welcome representation of young love, emphasizing emotional connection over sensationalist gestures.
Music and Visuals
Like every other Studio Ghibli film, the animation is breathtaking and highly detailed. Vivid hand-drawn backdrops overflowing with warmth and nostalgia, ranging from the traditional wooden structures to the thriving coast, graciously animate the abundant green hills. The Coquelicot Manor and the Latin Quarter do not disappoint and are highly spirited and inviting.
Satoshi Takebe, the film’s composer, beautifully pairs the music with the film. Gentle traditional tunes with distant harmonies and soft piano songs, create an aura of serenity. The story’s emotional scenes are embellished with a delicate touch of the theme song, “Summer of Farewells”.
Conclusion
From Up on Poppy Hill is a quietly, yet powerful film, told on the foundation of warmth, heart and meaning, and devoid of reliance on fantasy or action. It goes to show the precious value of looking back in a modern day world, not to live in the past, but to reclaim and nurture the past’s lessons with love and care.
The film in question can be watched by anyone regardless of age. It gives everyone something to ponder about. It promotes kindness and shows that even the simplest things, such as flag hoisting, preserving an antiquity, and even telling the truth, can have bigger repercussions. It manages to take the audience in with a light heart and a sense of optimism.
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