Movie: ‘Whisper of the Heart’ (Kondo Yoshifumi)

Introduced by Dawn Dietrich Whisper of the Heart is that rare thing: a Studio Ghibli film not directed by either Miyazaki or Takahata. In fact, it was the first such film, and has since become one of the most loved films in the Ghibli canon. The story is a simple, though closely observed, coming of age story involving a young girl who aspires to be a writer. For an animated film, it is surprisingly effective at evoking the texture of daily life in Japan. The only fantasy sequence in the film is motivated as a story that the main character is working on (and which itself spurred a later sequel). This is a film that has not failed to charm all who have seen it.