Speaking of war films, Japan is often issued a war animated film, especially the second world war where Japan won and lost in the same time. The second world war moment is always interesting to be discussed in various perspectives in animation medium such as Barefoot Gen taken from the point of view of a boy who must survive after the war, Hotaru no Haka taken from the point of view of siblings who must survive in the future -difficult times during the war, and Kaze Tachinu taken from the point of view of the fighter-maker that told of the bitter sweetness of life in wartime.
The interesting thing in all the above films is that the film does not menglorifikasi a war with all kinds of patriotism and his gallantry like an American film, animated film about the world war that is popular in Japan just more show the impression drama that sometimes wrapped with sadness or explosion of spirit to re-rise as a message for the next generation that war produces tragedy with a momentary victory. That's what makes Japanese animated films about war always special because the theme that brought him can make the audience sobbing sedan.
Sometimes behind war cruelty and its consequences to civilians Japanese animated war films offer hope and spirit of life in the face of life after the war and it is clearly described in an animated film titled Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni or better known in the international market under the name In This Corner of The World.
Kono Sekai became a sensation in the Japanese film industry. The film, funded by 3374 people through the crowdfunding system, successfully brought home many awards and the most prestigious of course beat Kimi no Na wa Best Animation Film award at the highest Japanese film award named Japan Academy Prize-40.
Fumiyo Kouno's comic-based movie that was released in 2007 tells about the life of a tiny girl from Hiroshima named Urano Suzu (Non). After growing up Suzu moved to Kure for marriage, where she became a wife, daughter-in-law, housewife, aunt to her niece. Behind her small, muscular body like Suzu's children had a strong heart in living her life in the midst of a hot war.
The biggest force of Kono Sekai is that he uses a slice of life gimmick to build stories from scratch to the point of climax. Slice of life game is built very smoothly and very beautiful as if we enjoy the daily life of Suzu as a housewife innocent, funny, and inspiring. Pacing brought from this story is slow counted but the pacing does not make this story boring because we continue to dissolve with the life of Suzu and his family are simple but ngena to the audience.
Pacing the story is slow and sounding syahdu turned out to be a trick of the story maker for the audience to fall asleep with the story. Once into the moment of climax and the tragedy of the audience as struck by a shocking thunderbolt makes the slow story into a "trap" the story maker. The tragedy given in this film continues to be given until the end of the film is finished so that this film produces an irony of a war, this film tells people to cry to see the scene without having to diforsir by entering the scene excessive. The drama mix with life slice of life combines very well and produces a solid and emotional story. The film also has a romantic level that is simple but common among people. There is no fictional romance here, the love story in this movie is so flowing and not just a husband-wife relationship or someone with his first love.
The craziest thing about the story in this movie is how the moment of loss of family and brother after the war is so clear. Many scenes illustrate this even in the last 30 minutes of the film being released, this strategy was issued not to make the audience teary but had a message that the war was just bringing a psychological disaster to its victims visible. One of the most intriguing quote of me when I watched this movie was when Suzu said "Are we defeated by violence?" Knowing that Japan surrendered and lost to a battle called World War II, besides many stabbing words about war atrocities at the end of the story which further strengthens the anti-war theme in this film. His words are simple but in accordance with the big picture that the film wants to bring.
In terms of character, Suzu is one example of the development of a perfect character from start to finish. The character process of Suzu is very human and very natural for the size of fictional characters. Suzu started life as an ordinary child and started her adult life as a housewife who must be tough in the face of difficult times. Although Suzu's character is quite young for the size of a housewife but she is really very mature in the face of all sorts of life problems, Suzu's self-conflicts depiction also runs very natural and not exaggerated like the general person when she lived her age and life like Suzu . The great point of Suzu's character is, he continues to echo the spirit of independence and toughness of a woman without having to loudly shout jargon feminism or empowerement.
Other supporting characters that exist also look very natural and support what is in this film. Everything seemed to give the same feels to the movie whether it's the brother of Suzu's husband, the mothers around Suzu's house to the comforting woman. All told in a simple way and does not demand the audience to really detail in understanding the characters in this movie.
Non who became voice Suzu know very well how to voice a simple girl nan plain but have a high spirit of life and never give up. His experience of being an actress of the phenomenal TV series Amachan really helped him in reviving Suzu's character that is almost similar to Aki Amano's character on the series.
The visuals in Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni look light and there is no animated game that is so "wow" or bombastic. The lines and animations that appear do look sedeharna but so integrates with the film format that puts the simplicity of a girl to produce a visual formula that is easy to see and easily infused. The depiction of the atmosphere of Hiroshima and Kure is offered very beautifully without having to put detail like Kimi no na wa but the result still looks beautiful and maximal. The atmosphere of war that appears in this movie is really detailed and so mengena to the audience without the need to create a tense or gripping atmosphere.
As a music history film that is present also in accordance with eranya. Kotringo which is the upbringing of Yellow Magic Orchestra leader Ryuichi Sakamoto puts a great melancholy feel to the music and song that resides in this film. Music and songs that appear sometimes provide happiness and tenderness but also can make the sad and wield his audience with the rhythm of tragedy that is able to invite tears to fall especially when sad scenes are constantly emerging.
Sunao Katabuchi as a director who previously helped film Ghibli like Kiki's Delivery Service brought Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni is amazingly perfect. Katabuchi is able to bring the three volumes of this book in 128 minutes perfectly without any plothole or excessive additions that might ruin the beautiful story. Simple comic material is presented with extraordinary appreciation by Katabuchi and all who are involved in this project so as to make this film as one of the perfect comic adaptation.
Katabuchi also restores what is missing from the full animated film over the past few years ie the union of a powerful concept with a common narrative story and simple visuals. Most animated films are now trying every way to look bombastic to attract attention but Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni seems back to basic and more entrusting the power of a war story rather than playing with a visual that is able to make eyes amazed but not imprint on the audience in terms of story.
Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni is a simple story of a person, but simplicity is processed in such a way as to include many messages about life without being patronizing and sounding persuasive. The film also managed to capture simplicity at a higher level without having to undermine its simple meaning. Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni is a story of an ordinary person with an extraordinary life.