When something is absolutely impeccable, when it excels at every possible requirement of the viewer and results more of a spiritual journey than a simple movie, I don't doubt for even five seconds giving it a 10. And let me tell you Byousoku 5 Centimeter, is a rotund 10.
It follows the love encounters of three teenagers. A boy, Tohno Takaki; and two girls, Sumida Kanae and Shinohara Akari; focusing more in the first aforementioned. Takaki and Akari are deeply in love ever since their childhood, during which they used to observe the petals of a cherry tree fall, supposedly, at five centimetres per second. Kanae is later introduced, when Takaki grows up and things change for him.
It is probably the most human movie I have ever seen, and ironically it doesn't star a single human being in it. Through poetic symbolisms and breathtaking speeches it illustrates the inevitable and infinite pain experienced by teenagers, the most conflictive and confused souls, as they are faced with the overwhelming eternity of life and possibility, filling them with anxiety as the obligingness of decisions forbids their immortal love and oppresses their desire for spiritual liberation.
It is pure in every possible sense of the word. It brings this warm feeling of impotence to the viewer by the sympathy it generates with its brilliantly executed characters and their struggle. Byousoku 5 Centimeter can be considered a top reference of the genre 'slice of life', as it defines the term sublimely.
The art compliments the brilliance of the story, with an epic cinematography full of warm colours and beautiful visuals that help construct the pleasant vibe of the picture.
I have absolutely no negative comments regarding this masterpiece. Every single second of it resulted delighting to my eyes, the enjoyment was maximum, you feel like a petal of a cherry tree harmonically falling at five centimetres per second while watching it. If you are to see it, I hope I haven't kicked your expectations too high. Anyway if you are able to appreciate fine, quality cinema I doubt it disappoints you. The director Makoto Shinkai has brought nothing but subtle work to the vast table of the Seventh Art. Excellent, heart-warming stories complimented with outstanding modern animation, and Byousoku 5 Centimeter is not the exception at all.
