In This Corner of the World

Calling all fans of anime, history, art, all things Japanese, and cinema in general – In This Corner of the World is the film for you!

Set in and around Hiroshima in the 1930s and ’40s, we follow a young woman named Suzu as she comes of age, deals with the pressures of married life, and experiences love, joy, friendship, and at the same time, homesickness and loneliness. As the peacefulness of pre-war Japan gives way to rationing, warships, military police, and fire bombings, the film becomes a devastating portrait of everyday life in the face of unbearable tragedy and loss.

In This Corner of the World is beautifully made, with great care given to detail in the hand-drawn animation, particularly with respect to its authentic depiction of Japanese life and culture from this era. The film is also incredibly creative: Suzu, the main character, is very artistic and loves to draw, so many crucial moments throughout the film are seen through sketches developing in her eyes. Another fascinating feature of the film is how detached this small corner of the world feels from the wider war, and how the ordinary characters portrayed react to both the day-to-day realities of war as well as the key historical events that take place in front of them.

An incredibly moving film, In This Corner of the World has won countless awards in Japan and has received very favourable reviews from film critics. It is unlike anything you will see this year.