Only Yesterday (1991)
Director: Isao Takahata
Stars: Miki Imai, Toshirô Yanagiba, Yoko HonnaRuntime: 118 minutes
Synopsis: A twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.
Animation: 9/10
Animation: 9/10
Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Verdict: "Only Yesterday" is only one of two Studio Ghibli production to get a perfect 100% on the Tomatometer (although many others came awfully close). It's also only the second movie of theirs that wasn't directed by the renowned Hayao Miyazaki. Isao Takahata, of "Grave of the Fireflies" fame, stepped in instead which makes sense considering the mature approach of some of the film's themes.
Taeko Okajima is in her late 20s, rocking a job in her home city of Tokyo, when she starts being pressured of her status of still being single at that age (...right?). It's during that time that she decides to take a short trip for the first time to the countryside, where she is meant to help a farmer relative of hers harvest safflower.
The movie jumps between timelines, present and past to be precise, because Taeko starts reminiscing about her childhood during that trip. And this is when we start witnessing the themes and messages of the movie. From puberty to sisterhood, "Only Yesterday" doesn't leave any rock unturned, and beautifully depicts it through its gorgeous animation (of which my only issue are the weird dimples on Taeko's face) and exceptional editing work. The movie's highlight for me, however, was Taeko's struggle to exist in a world in which she is judged for being different and in which she is expected to abide by society's rules. While the conclusion is touching and exceptionally executed, I did unfortunately sense that it chose to drop what it has been setting up the whole time in order to fit in a more fairytale-like ending which left me a little underwhelmed.
Despite that, it's still very easy to see why this movie was received in such a positive manner. It's certainly yet another Studio Ghibli coming of age classic and maybe even the most feminist movie of theirs that I've seen. It's on Netflix for anyone interested in checking it out.
Taeko Okajima is in her late 20s, rocking a job in her home city of Tokyo, when she starts being pressured of her status of still being single at that age (...right?). It's during that time that she decides to take a short trip for the first time to the countryside, where she is meant to help a farmer relative of hers harvest safflower.
The movie jumps between timelines, present and past to be precise, because Taeko starts reminiscing about her childhood during that trip. And this is when we start witnessing the themes and messages of the movie. From puberty to sisterhood, "Only Yesterday" doesn't leave any rock unturned, and beautifully depicts it through its gorgeous animation (of which my only issue are the weird dimples on Taeko's face) and exceptional editing work. The movie's highlight for me, however, was Taeko's struggle to exist in a world in which she is judged for being different and in which she is expected to abide by society's rules. While the conclusion is touching and exceptionally executed, I did unfortunately sense that it chose to drop what it has been setting up the whole time in order to fit in a more fairytale-like ending which left me a little underwhelmed.
Despite that, it's still very easy to see why this movie was received in such a positive manner. It's certainly yet another Studio Ghibli coming of age classic and maybe even the most feminist movie of theirs that I've seen. It's on Netflix for anyone interested in checking it out.
FINAL GRADE: 8/10
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