5 centimeters per Second

Long overdue movie. Truly an amazing film. After watching this movie, i consider it 62 minutes of pure magic. I'm not even trying to exaggerate this.

The movie poster

I think the perfect word to describe this movie would be "Bittersweet". Separated into 3 stories, it shows the different moments of Takaki Tono, the protagonist of this film.

 Story 1 titled " cherry blossoms" shows Tono and his old childhood friend Akari Shinohara conversing with other via post.

Both set a place to meet each other, however due to the snow Tono's train was severely delayed. I liked the way he described the feeling of being stuck in the snow, "Each passing minute felt like an eternity"

However he still makes his way to the station where they both decided to meet, and surprise surprise, Akari was waiting for him. Although i feel that this scene was very cliche, it was touching nevertheless and managed to draw out the happiness of meeting each other. It ends after tono and akari sharing a kiss on the snowy field next to a cherry blossom tree and sending each other off at the train station.

The significance of this scene is when Tono dismisses the letter he lost, which was filled with his unsaid feelings towards her, as insignificant because of the kiss they shared. But Akari takes out her own letter and stares at the leaving train. I didn't realize how important this scene was until the end of the movie.

Tono and Akari walking on the snowy fields.

The second story, called "cosmonaut" is about Tono in highschool and his friend Kanae, having romantic feelings for him. She states that he felt different from the other boys thus making her attracted to him. On the other hand, Tono seems ignorant of her feelings and seems to be emailing someone most of the time. However it is later revealed that he merely writing those emails and did not send them to anyone. There is also scenes which show him thinking of Akari.

At the final part of the story, Kanae finally gives up on Tono because he always seems to be looking far off into the distance, and she realizes that she would not be able to give him what he wanted. She also states that she would never stop loving him no matter how much time passes and cries herself to sleep.

The last story, 5 centimeters per second, shows Tono working as a computer programmer while Akari is preparing to get married. I find this last story very heart breaking because it is actually shows how reality really is. Even though he still loves her, they are already too distant and lead completely different lives.

I didn't really like how it ended, but it reminded me that this is how reality is. Tono somehow looks like he is going through depression and shows us a glimpse of his failed relationships. On the other hand, Akari seems to be at the best point of her life, and is getting married.

Tono and Akari share a dual narration in the last story and they say how they had a dream last night about their last meeting in the snow. One day while walking down a road, they encounter each other at a train crossing. Although they both turned back at the same time, the passing train blocked each other's gazes.

When the train finally passes, Tono looks back to the other side of the railroad only to find no one there. He smiles and starts walking in the opposite direction once more.

This film shows how people can grow apart through time, and how teaches people to stop pining over the past and move forward. A very mature and realistic film. Personally, i think that this movie is both sad and satisfying, because of utter realness of which this movie is based on. Truly a masterpiece.There were many sad quotes as well. ;_;