“Whisper of the heart”: Studio Ghibli’s most underrated film.
As I watch the sunrise with Shizuku and Seiji, our beloved main characters from the movie “Whisper of the Heart” I feel a sense of determination and fire-hot yearning brewing just under my skin. Accompanied by the beautiful rendition of the song “Country roads” sung in Japanese by Youko Honna, I feel as though I can accomplish anything that I dream of. The beauty of this very film and the entire brand of Studio Ghibli is the absolute simplicity of it. “Whisper of the Heart” is a captivating 1995 Japanese animated romantic drama produced by Studio Ghibli which follows the character of Shizuku Tsukishima, a 14-year-old student at a high school in Tokyo, who is passionate about creative writing. We are introduced to our main character who is a vibrant and cheerful 14-year-old with a passion for reading and creative writing — an intelligent student, with her head always buried in books that she borrows from her own library and the city library, where her father works.
We see her enthusiasm for literature in the first half of the film; she goes to borrow books to read from her school library — which her professor begrudgingly opens for her — during the summer vacations. The whole film at its core, revolves around the fulfilment of dreams and self-satisfaction, and is displayed through the trials that Shizuku faces, as she challenges herself into writing her first book. In her enthusiasm to finish writing her novel, she becomes distant from her class work and exams — ultimately scoring poorly — which concerns her parents deeply. However, unexpectedly, her parents allow her to do as she pleases, putting their full trust in her to do what’s right. And its these sweet and touching gestures, that make the film studio as revered and beloved as it is till date.
Studio Ghibli is a legendary Japanese animation studio known for its captivating films and high-quality craftsmanship. It was founded in 1985 by three talented individuals namely Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki who decided to start their own venture after working together for years. The name “Ghibli” comes from the Italian word for “hot Sahara wind’ and it reflects the studio’s desire to “blow new wind through the anime industry.” Studio Ghibli has produced 20 feature films, several short films and tv commercials and some of their most beloved works include, “My Neighbour Totoro”, “Spirited Away,” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service.” (Arguably, some of their best works are those, which are slightly on the niche side, and I will die on this hill.)
The understanding and gentle nature of Shizuku’s parents allow her to flourish and take charge of her future, by allowing her to make her own decisions. Her parents allow her to do what she believes is right, even when it interferes with her performance in school. They don’t question what she’s doing, and they don’t drill her for information, believing that she understands fully the consequences of her actions. And she does. After the completion of her book, she decides that she wants to continue with her schooling and go on to high school, something she was reluctant to do in the past. She wants to continue to learn, so that she can enhance her works in a more sophisticated and elegant way and that her future works will have more depth to it.
As we progress through the film, her parents stage an intervention for her, in regard to her poor grades after her recent examination. We see her father tell her, that her actions have their consequences and in the light that something goes wrong, she will be the only one to blame. She takes on the challenge of starting and finishing her book, nervous, but still determined to prove herself wrong. The leniency of her parents to allow her to make her own choices, and to forge her own path in the world is commendable, as these days we find that most parents have the blueprint for their kid’s lives drafted from the very moment they were born. While they believe that it is for the good of their kids, it often leads to resentment and then rebelliousness and finally estrangement by the children, from the parents.
Shizuku’s shift from her insecurity of her future to her passionate revival of her talents, is instigated by none other than her close friend, Seiji Amasawa, a 14-year-old boy from the same grade as her, who has a passion for making violins. He dreams of going to Cremona, Italy, where there is a special school for learning how to make violins and young Shizuku is enraptured with his aspiration and courage to do something that is extraordinary. In comparison, she feels that she lacks that passion and ambition and believes that she would get nowhere because of her lack of knowledge and vocation. In the two months that her friend goes away, she challenges herself to write a book and find out if that’s where her passion lies. Comparison is the thief of joy; everyone goes through life with their own set of troubles and triumphs, but Shizuku’s main reason for testing her limits is because she felt awfully unambitious in the face of the dreams of her friend.
She wants to have that spark of motivation, that spark of fire that pushes her to accomplish her dreams and conquer the world. She finds her easy-going and care-free attitude towards her talents and studies pathetic, and after a conversation with her close friend, she decides that she is going to try and transcend the boundaries of her quiet and peaceful life by doing something more stimulating.
None the less, after she finally finishes her book, she is so dissatisfied with what she has written, that she realizes that in order to be a better author and write in a more knowledgeable way, she has to study further. In order to discover her innate talents, she must go through a rigorous process that helps her shed her outer shell and reveal the true beauty and unbridled passion that lies within her. Studio Ghibli has the flair of eliciting emotions you didn’t know you were capable of feeling or yearning for moments you didn’t know you desired. Watching a fourteen-year-old girl struggle with her pursuits and ambitions against the backdrop of a suburban Japan, made me question the path I was following in my own life. Shizuku answers her inner most desires and questions by taking the road less travelled and understanding that it would not be a well-tread one.
Her bravery to try, at the risk of failing, is commendable and it’s what makes her an extremely loveable and dynamic character. Her firecracker personality and creative nature makes her relatable to viewers of all ages. Additionally, it’s important to acknowledge the role of Shiho Tsukishima, her older sister, whose character serves as a contrasting counterpart to the beloved Shizuku. Shiho is the complete opposite of Shizuku; she is the more ‘accomplished’ daughter and one who seems well-settled in her life.
Throughout the movie, I thought that Shiho’s presence in the house is reminiscent of the life Shizuku would have if she stuck to the textbook way of living after her high school. While Shizuku is at a loss about her future plans, her older sister Shiho seems to have it all in place, with a part-time job good enough to help her move out of her parent’s house and help her to be independent. As Shizuku struggles with her studies and her motivation to keep on writing her book, Shiho moves out, leaving her alone in a room that now seems too big for her.
From my personal stance, I like to think of Shiho as Shizuku’s counterpart from an alternate universe, even though they’re two completely different people. Shiho as the idea of a totally older, and future version of Shizuku, is someone who went through with her education and got a job and then eventually moved out of her parent’s home. It’s like Shiho is a tangible representation of one potential path Shizuku could take, embodying the societal expectations of education and career. It may be a far cry from the heart of the movie, but it seems comforting to me that Shizuku’s ideal future self would perhaps manifest in the form of her older sister and push her to do the things that make her uncomfortable.
As an older sister, Shiho feels partly responsible for Shizuku’s writer’s block and her disregard for studying, hence, she tries to push her to do the right thing — according to her, that is. The idea that Shiho feels responsible for Shizuku’s challenges and tries to guide her, albeit in a way that might seem uncomfortable to Shizuku, is a nuanced view of sibling relationships. It shows how family members can influence one another’s decisions and self-perception, sometimes even without realizing it. Both of the sister’s act as a mirror to each other, one conforming to the trivialities of life and the other trying to be different.
It probably is a stretch and not what the writers of the movie had in mind, but I think it’s a nice way to show that no matter how alone Shizuku thought she was, she always had the support of her parents and her sister. The whole movie weaves together the bonds of friendship, family and aspirations into a delightful two hours which truthfully, doesn’t seem like enough and leaves you feeling melancholic. The movie leaves you craving for more, perhaps a part two, as viewers are keen to know what happens after she decides to do what she wants to. The questions are left open to interpretation: does she finally go to high school and study further like she wanted to? Does she perhaps, write another book and actually get it published this time? While the questions remain unanswered, it is up to the viewers to decide on the fate of our main character.
If you’re in search of a film that warms the heart while stirring the soul, I wholeheartedly recommend this Studio Ghibli gem as your next cinematic adventure. The film’s enchanting visuals and masterful soundtrack create a serene and delightful experience, enchanting viewers across generations. It’s a masterpiece that promises to touch the hearts of young and old alike, inviting all to bask in its storytelling magic.
“Whisper of the Heart”, one of Studio Ghibli’s terribly underrated films celebrates the prowess of young creators and dreamers and the importance of pursuing those dreams, in spite of the challenges one might face. These are the very qualities that garner attention from fans worldwide and its why, till date, they still have a powerful fanbase consisting of all age groups. This movie is one of the lesser-known Ghibli-gems, and it’s just as good as the others if not better, in a way that perfectly captures the looming feeling of uncertainty in life after school or university. It becomes a comfort film and a source of hope for those who feel like they are in a similar position as our beloved main character Shizuku, who struggles with unsurety about her future career path. Do yourselves a huge favour and watch this movie, please! (And thank me later)
