Kotonoha no Niwa is one of Makoto Shinkai’s greatest works ever. That is of course no minor detail. If you haven’t heard about Makoto Shinkai yet, chances are you’ve probably watched or at least heard about some of his wonderful and unforgettable movies, one of the most popular of them being Byousoku 5 Centimeter (5 Centimeters per Second) listed on our previous selection of romantic movies. Shinkai isn’t called “the next Miyazaki” for no reason. He excels at making the most brilliant, wonderful and heartbreaking love stories, and Kotonoha no Niwa is definitely not an exception.
Kotonoha no Niwa tells the story of 15 year old Takao Akizuki, a nice and innocent kid with a big ambition; becoming a shoemaker (okay, not that big really, though he does take it very seriously). Takao is very responsible but he has one guilty pleasure. He skips school on every rainy morning to go to a beautiful Japanese garden and sketch shoe designs. There, Takao meets Yukari Yukino, a beautiful and mysterious grown up woman with whom he has pleasant and comforting talks each time they meet.
This is truly a movie to fall in love with. The art is impressive, the melancholic vibe is overwhelming and the human emotions are developed so realistically that you will find it hard not to shed a few tears. The story is not so much about a forbidden love between a high school kid and a grown up woman, but rather about two lonely human souls in distress who find great comfort in the company of each other. Of course, the romantic atmosphere and feelings are still there, so if you’re looking for a really moving romantic movie, Kotonoha no Niwa is always an excellent choice.
