In This Corner (And Other Corners) Of the World: Anime Movie Full Length Reaction! PATREON COMMISSION!
Added 2025-07-18 17:00:08 +0000 UTC*CORNERED HEADPHONE WARNINGS*
This movie seems like a lot for an undertaking but it is POWERFUL - I was instantly transported, intrigued, stunned, moved, and horrified in the span of 3 hours!
This movie is so important for anyone to watch -- to know of the perseverance, the hope against violence, and against the powers of authority that would seek to tear us down. Thank you, Shimoyama, for commissioning this incredible film!
LINK TO REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/Tr4cWvkkFmD2rhpizbNhgM
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
Thank you so much for the comment and kind words! WHAT a film - complicated is a fair word for it! And yeah, I didn’t know what I was getting into, but a rewatch would need to require a good headspace. Things moved so quickly and then came grinding to a slower speed during the marriage and the war. I loved Suzu as a character - she’s so quirky but also so grounded! VASH-LIKE! That little head tilt she does? Oh, that is SUCH Vash mannerisms! And their themes of hope and empathy through suffering and horrific events around them? They’d be besties for sure. The note about women and their complex relationships is so well - between Suzu and Rin, her own sister, Keiko, the mother-in-law, even the girl she adopts at the end! Rin was such a tragic character as well - I could follow her entire story as well if it were told. And that ties into the idea that we see how this film shows the impact the events in the story are having on each of them, like you pointed out! I could watch this film honestly from any of the characters’ perspective! SO. MANY. LAYERS. Especially with the theme of resistance. Suzu is so inspiring - I love how she tries to stay true to herself despite the forces of violence working to change her or break her down. And yes, I love that conversation about gender roles and how our female characters don’t always fit them (Keiko, Rin, and Suzu definitely)! WOW - that is incredible working with Ukrainian students and staff - it makes me sick that the “routine” from the raids in the film are happening now, just now they’re more visible with technology to people on the other side of the world, quicker. That’s so horrifying in so many ways. I absolutely adore that this received funds to get the extended version; I honestly cannot imagine watching another version than this one now that I’ve seen it. And WOW again - the fact that the funding happened in ONE DAY and exceeded that is so powerful and impressive - I love that for the director - it speaks the power and importance of their message for SURE! Shimoyama DELIVERED with this commission, yes! I am so excited for August’s entries, but yours was so great! I can’t wait to check out the comments for it! Thanks for the comment and kind words!
Romaniablack
2025-07-28 03:54:13 +0000 UTCI’m very anti-war so yeah, there was so much that made me sad with this movie’s plot – I hate that our family has had to endure that, even some of our peers. When my grandfather came back from WWII, he became a preacher and never touched a gun again - he was very impacted by what happened during that time. It really is sad. I like that this film hit as you said, that war can tear a family apart in ways that aren’t perhaps apparent on the surface. And YES, not even 100 years - it’s wild - and the effects of that war are still being felt today. I do appreciate a movie that sparks a conversation like this one! I loved that dialogue with Rin and Suzu as well - I feel that rewatching this film - if my heart can take it - would be helpful as well. Suzu was an amazing protagonist and her and Keiko’s resilience was insanely moving to watch! Thank you for the comment and kind words and yes, Shimoyama did a good one in this!
Romaniablack
2025-07-25 03:15:02 +0000 UTCLoved the reaction and discussion! This is such a wonderful and complicated film, I had to give it a few days after the commission coming out to make sure I was in the right headspace to rewatch. Love how the passage of time was done! Things moved very quickly through Suzu’s childhood, so when time slowed down once she got married, it felt like so much longer but it had only been 18 months. Felt like a lot of life happened in that time. And all the way through – Suzu’s characterisation was so consistent and real. There was also something very Vash-like in Suzu that I really enjoyed. Not just in some mannerisms but also in the way they both maintain their hope and empathy through immense personal suffering. Something I really love is the variety and complexity of relationships between the women. Adore Suzu’s and Rin’s friendship and how they were really looking out for one another, even if they had only a few opportunities to meet. 🥰 I don’t really recall any instances of someone other than Rin herself advising Suzu to 'stay away,' but that pressure would have been there, and Suzu’s refusal to give up this friendship (even when later learning of the connection to Shusaku) was really sweet to see. The discussion around this was excellent. There was so much that happened in the far background, as well, like the small references to people losing their jobs and livelihoods (when they were forced to move or materials commandeered, etc), losing their homes and land to the war effort, the displacement of everyone, inflation and war profiteeering. I feel that a film like this could have been made for any of the characters we saw on screen, everyone would have such a story to tell. Keiko’s story alone would be so interesting to see in full. Themes of resistance? Again, so many layers. In Suzu’s refusal to give in to despair, retaining her core of self through everything. In the film’s strong focus on ‘civilian’ life and refusal to divert attention to the war itself, only its consequences on the innocent population. And a lot of resistance against gender roles and women finding solidarity (with Keiko and Suzu being the most intricate example of this, I feel). Everything in the discussion around how well this film shows the impact on the lives of people was really appreciated. As part of my job I’ve been working the past few years on some collaborative projects with a Ukrainian university – it is nearly a hundred years past the events depicted in the film and the number of times I’ve been in a remote meeting or call with colleagues over there who had to leave due to air raid sirens, or literally joined calls from inside metro stations doubling as bomb shelters, is way too high. It is infuriating how the routine the Hojo family developed is as true of an experience right now as it was so long ago. This film had another interesting production; as with Mai Mai Miracle there was a Kickstarter campaign which gathered double its original goal! 🥰 I think this is why there was an original release in 2016 and the extended version then released in 2019. It’s wonderful that they were able to add so much extra content! And I can finish on a cute anecdote 😆 – there was a second crowdfunding campaign to fund the director’s travel to a bunch of countries to support and promote the film around the world. The production committee expected it to take months but it was fully funded in one day and people kept donating (triple the goal ultimately), so Katabuchi said: “I might get sent to the moon!” 🤣 Thank you to Shimoyama for another amazing commission! 🥰 Cannot wait for the next entry in just a few days! 💙
Sunspots
2025-07-22 09:32:00 +0000 UTCI’m just now catching up to the discussion and yes- war is SO pointless. We have the ability to reach an understanding and yet we resort to horrific violence. My grandparents grew up in a war torn environment- in their home country. I don’t wanna talk in super detail about it but the theme of innocence being stripped away is really soul crushing. Thank you for being so open to being vulnerable! The ones most affected are the innocent. It’s so tragic. But yeah, because of their upbringing it really took its toll when my mother came into the picture. To say they have an estranged relationship is an understatement. Intergeneration trauma from war and loss can leave lasting impacts. War can definitely tear family apart in more ways than one. World war 2 wasn't even that long ago honestly. Not even a 100 years ago and there’s a lot of violence that occurred years later. It really boggles my mind that some wars are called “civil war” when in reality what occurred was genocide. This movie really sparks a conversation with ourselves and each other. Anywho- Back to the topic 😅 Yesss I liked the scene where Rin and Suzu talking about purpose, things not going as planned, and how we have a duty to ourselves. Their friendship was really wholesome. Yk... I was a bit confused on Shuzaku and Rin but I was able to pick up the pieces later. I could definitely rewatch the movie and probably spot things I didn't initially notice. I did very much grew to love Suzu in-laws and I'm happy they could move forward together even after everything that's happened. Keiko & Suzu are so resilient! 🥹 thank you again Shimoyama for this moving film. Have a nice one yall!
Nicolas
2025-07-20 04:50:58 +0000 UTC
