Thoughts On Belle
On Accepting One’s Self
This article contains spoilers.
INTRODUCTION
To be honest, I didn’t like Belle much. It had an exciting premise, but the execution fell short.
However, I adore its music, animation, and overall message. I just wished Hosoda made the plot more cohesive because he included several minor themes that felt unresolved.
I praise Hosoda for his attempt to try something new with Belle. Most of his films are about the main character who confronts their identity in relation to their family.
While those elements are also present in this movie, he went beyond this usual style. In Belle, he also portrayed the impact of how one is perceived by others on a person’s identity formation.
PLOT
Suzu is a shy high school student who lives in a rural village. For years, she goes on with her daily life with little confidence.
But when she enters “U”, a massive virtual world, she escapes into her online persona as Belle, a beautiful and universally acclaimed singer.
