Violet Evergarden the Movie Review: Love and Longing in Times of War and Progress
The long awaited film sequel to Kyoto Animation’s adaptation of Violet Evergarden (2020) was recently distributed by Netflix. Already award-winning on its own, including the 2021 Japan Academy Awards and Tokyo Anime Awards, Violet Evergarden was one of Japan’s highest grossing anime films for 2020, although Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020) led the pack by a mile during that year. With mostly positive reviews commending the movie, was there anything major to really fault about the finale to Violet’s long journey? Warning: spoilers ahead!
War and technology: The largely ignored overarching themes?
Violet Evergarden, an orphaned and nameless child found by military personnel, was eventually taken in as a weapon instead of being regarded as a person. They were, after all, fighting a war and would always welcome additions to their ranks. Maltreated and discriminated, Violet began to believe she was not human as well. Eventually, Violet was assigned to a recently promoted soldier named Gilbert Bougainvillea, who was revealed to have joined the military in order to continue the family tradition rather than it being his own preference. Unlike his brothers in arms, Gilbert regarded Violet as a person, teaching her beyond military skills and seeking to introduce to her the better aspects of life. Their bond, however, would seem to end even before the war found its conclusion. Believing that Gilbert perished, the armless Violet continued living on as an auto memory doll, a person designated to write letters for people who were unable to do so, either due to illiteracy or mere lack of capability to compose one. Prosthetic arms made of metal made it possible for her to write. As Violet gained fame for her works, she found a clue that led her to a remote island where Gilbert supposedly settled. It was no longer a question of whether or not her former superior survived. She wanted to know if they could still rekindle the love which was professed years ago during the war.
While some audiences might place in high regard the emotional rollercoaster with which the romance between Violet and Gilbert developed, the roles of war and technological progress in the narrative also could not be overstated. They were not the only war veterans in the story. Violet’s boss Claudia Hodgins was also a soldier. The same went for Gilbert’s brother Dietfried, the one who discovered Violet in the first place. There were hints that they were in the midst of a communications revolution wherein telegraphs and telephones were gradually becoming mainstream devices, which meant that the war was not the only one fading from their sights, as Violet’s early years were devoted much to being a killing machine, but also the life with which they decided to live. It was not the main thrust of the plot, apparently, but technological advancements were nonetheless instrumental to the overall plot progression. Even Violet’s prosthetic arms was part of this. With new technology, dolls like Violet would have no practical purpose. The state of peace and progress made Violet reconsider her options. As the story went, it led her back to Gilbert, who turned out to be remorseful as well, his reason being unable to give Violet a future. What he failed to realize was Violet’s own feelings on the matter. She even swam the sea with metal arms to meet him. Were they made of lightweight materials anyhow?
It was quite a melancholic development, however, to note that Violet was never seen as an adaptive nor an innovative type. She was a quick learner, yes, but to find out that she wrote letters to the end felt like an immense waste of talent for her caliber. There were writers whose literary legacies endured throughout the centuries. But of course, Violet was not an ambitious one either. Such contentment and gratefulness in her heart may seem difficult to find in this era of total work and maximum productivity, but perhaps appreciating life was not merely a subject of accolades and prizes. The fact that one could be alive now and could still enjoy the world around might well be a source of thanks.
The intricacies of moving on: Was Violet’s longing ever justified?
As her works gave joy and fulfillment for others, Violet on the other hand never really seemed to be at peace with her past, even during the days when she was convinced Gilbert was gone. She was always indifferent and distant, even with people friendly to her, despite the overflowing sentiments she was able to express writing. While speculative, it would have been an interesting twist if Violet moved on from Gilbert and found new people to love. Then again, it would probably have changed the appeal of Violet Evergarden herself. Imagine a jolly and amiable Violet, a strong and independent lady, freed from the lingering shackles of her posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression? Being with Gilbert was not the solution to all of Violet’s problems, of course, for no person could claim to be the ultimate panacea. Yet as far as the narrative portrayed, Gilbert’s influence on Violet was inexplicably massive that she was unable to look forward to the future without him.
From a rational point of view, it might sound quite absurd. Then again, humanity may not be always rational just as well. Love never fails, and it never gives up. The test of time, distance, and prevailing circumstances did not break Violet’s grit and resolve. For that, she was rewarded the life she longed. Then again, “happy endings,” while usually preferred, would not always be so from the harsh standpoint of human history. There were people who did not see their dreams come true, no matter how great or small, during their lifetimes despite their remarkable faith. In a way, this made Violet Evergarden more than a love letter. It was also a letter of faith. A letter of hope. A letter of joy. A letter of peace. A letter of patience and perseverance. A letter to shed one’s regrets in life.
Saibancho, the verdict
Flawless animation and a beautiful soundtrack added to the stunning masterpiece that became Violet Evergarden. While some audiences may feel that the 140-minute movie was unnecessarily long, in fact one of the longest anime films in recent history, perhaps it was justified by the attempt of this adaptation to be relatively standalone. Since it was a sequel, it may be beneficial to have a background on the original 2018 series for further appreciation since it did not appear geared to attract new fans at first look. Then again, those who would choose to first immerse in Violet’s plot through the film would likely not find a difficult time understanding the gist even if they lacked basic knowledge of the anime series.
In retrospect, it was also a commentary on how war and development failed to alleviate the people they were trying to defend and nourish. Violet herself was a victim of the very society she would eventually help through her many letters. Yet her general response, the life she lived, showed how a grateful heart could make wonders. In a conventional setup, a vengeful Violet would have not been a farfetched concept. Still, her farewell message summed it up. What made her stronger was not the desire for revenge nor her own sense of justice, but the power of love. How about us? What do you think should you give thanks for today?
(Photos from the film courtesy of Kyoto Animation)
