Omohide Poro Poro (Only Yesterday) must be one of the most underrated Studio Ghibli movies. I guess the reason is
Only Yesterday is not as child-friendly as the other Studio Ghibil movies. However, like many other Studio Ghibli
movies, Only Yesterday touches audience in a way that only Studio Ghibli can do. Story: (9/10) – Great
Okajima Taeko, an office girl from Tokyo, decides to take a ten-day vacation in the countryside. Not having any close family to stay with, she chooses to visit some relatives of her sister's husband and work on their safflower farm. Throughout her journey and during her stay, Taeko reminisces about her 5th grade year. With flashbacks to her school days, we follow Taeko’s thoughts as she becomes aware of her life.
This is one of the most realistic anime movies I’ve watched. I see myself a lot in Taeko. I too have memories of childhood that, for some reason, just won't go away. Like Taeko, I sometimes find myself thinking about my childhood days, feeling regretful of some of the things I had done and wondering at how things had turned out the way they did. Through watching
Only Yesterday, we also get to experience the profound beauty of rural life in Japan.
Characters: 9/10 - Great
Taeko is a very realistic character and it’s easy to relate to her. Her life is a simple one and some of the things she has experienced are things which we can most definitely identify with - first love, struggle with math (I personally have no such problems ^.-), and etc. Little focus is given to the other characters but like Taeko, the other characters are easy to identify with.
Art/Animation: (8/10) – Good
This is a 1991 film so Taking that into account, I think that both the art and animation are beautifully done. I especially like how the landscape is drawn. The only small issue I have is that all the adult characters have realistically (too realistic) sculpted cheekbones and other facial contours, which I haven’t seen in other anime series before. It may be realistic but aesthetically speaking, I don’t think it’s necessary.
Sound/Music: 8/10 – Good
Music is pleasing, peaceful, and very fitting. There is a repetitive Hungarian theme in the movie, using pieces of music such as 'Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 7' in a scene where Taeko is eating lunch, and making references to Hungarian musicians when she is in the car with Toshio. Though this is an odd choice of music, I think it’s a good one.
Enjoyment: 9/10 – Great
I think that one needs to be in the right mood to watch this movie. If you are in the mood to watch something that makes you laugh or gives you an adrenaline rush,
Only Yesterday is not the movie to watch as you will definitely find its pacing too slow. However, if you are in the mood for something simple and realistic, which I was when I was watching, you will definitely enjoy watching
Only Yesterday.
Overall: 9/10 - Great
Only Yesterday impresses me with its simplicity, realism and serenity. It’s a must-watch for all who enjoys slice-of-life.
