Suzume no Tojimari: A story of loss, love and finding hope

Makoto Shinkai's Suzume no Tojimari is a captivating tale of finding hope with its skillful storytelling, symbolism and animation.

A Shinkai movie is a feast for the eyes and a testament to animation's power of capturing the beauty and complexity of the world. In Suzume no Tojimari, too, we are welcomed with thrilling action that keeps us hooked. A fantasy and coming-of-age drama, it follows 17-year-old high school student Suzume Iwato as she travels in disaster-struck Japan, closing mysterious doors along the way to prevent devastation.

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Suzume was living a normal life in Kyushu until she encounters a strange man, Shouta who is looking for a mysterious door. Upon learning that leaving these doors open can cause natural disasters, she goes on a quest with Shouta to shut them down. These doors act as passages for a worm-like creature from the "ever-after" world. And Daijin, a keystone is responsible to keep them under control. But unknowingly Suzume frees Daijin and thus, the catastrophe begins. Daijin curses Shouta and he becomes a chair and Suzume takes over the responsibility of being a "closer".

still from the film

A lot of people might complain about how romance wasn't the central theme of it but it doesn't have to. The film explores loss - of a loved one, home, precious years of one's life, dreams, and more. One of my favorite scenes that embodies the loss and emotions of a human is the one where a lady opens up about her heartening memories with an abandoned amusement park. We get to see Suzume and Shouta visualizing their own past and remembering the stories of people who once closed the doors. Another scene that highlights the gravitas of represented feelings. We know the struggles that both the characters had with self-esteem and projecting their emotions. The conversation between Tamaki and Suzume where they argue about who has ruined whose life, is all about them finally letting out their suppressed emotions. Humans often tend to internalise their emotions and pretend not to feel things. The film wants us to grieve our loss but it also fills us with hope for the future. From good pacing and consistent thrills to intriguing characters, the film has it all.

Makoto Shinkai is influenced by Hayao Miyazaki and both try to embed the essence of Japanese culture and beliefs in order to emphasize Japan's beauty. However, unlike Miyazaki, who also critiques society in his work, Makoto Shinkai very subtly laments the country's tragedies like depopulation, natural disasters, loneliness, and more without making a direct statement. Suzume shows how watching their homes and loved places getting deserted affects people emotionally. And it is a beautiful and poignant reminder of the emotions throughout the film music. Japanese rock band Radwimps and composer Kazuma Jinnouchi worked on the soundtrack of the film. As a Radwimps fan, I found their music pretty different and chaotic from what you would expect a conventional Radwimps to sound like. It isn't just used to set up the mood of the film but also to elevate the scenes. The scenes where the protagonists are closing the doors are masterfully paired up with strong and chaotic music that helps in communicating the emotions with the audience.

Suzume and Shouta may not light up your world as Mitsuha and Taki did in "Your Name" but they are extremely likeable. Unlike Your Name, Suzume gives time to the story and its characters to develop. The film has credible supporting characters as well. They might not have a lot of time on screen but they are impactful regardless. Suzume's intriguing characters, challenges, and suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Watch the trailer here:

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