This movie is about exploring your family heritage, which are shown really well. There are multiple scenes where Umi is thinking about her dad and how much he means to her, like during a dream sequence when she sees him again, or how everyday she raises the sea flags. These scenes show how much Umi's family history has impacted her on a personal level, and how these shape her to be the person she is now.
The main plot is about how Umi's and Shun’s relationship, which is shown reasonably well. Watching them learn about their family's histories and how these effect them, the challenges they face as a result of this is shown in a very heartfelt and moving way. Although it would of been nice to see Umi and Shun spend more time together to build up their relationship.
The film also focuses on the high school students trying to save the club house, which doesn't add any substance to the story. This is fun to watch, but it doesn't add much to Umi’s and Shun's relationship because it doesn't focus on them and their personal struggles. During the club house sequence it often focuses on side characters which are easily forgettable and doesn't get much screen time. These make it harder to care about the clubhouse.
This film has some fantastic moments, especially when it focuses on Umi and Shun, however it is bogged down by focussing too much on the club house and minor characters. I would still recommend this movie for Studio Ghibli and romance fans, and I'll be looking forward to what Goro Miyazaki does next.
Constructive feedback is appreciated :)
