It's very rare that a movie can make its way into my 10/10 list, mostly for the fact that I never find them long enough to make a real connection with the world, the story, and the characters. And I'm the type who prefers intense, suspenseful, and action-filled drama. Although I do find that it has the element of suspense to it (what is their fate due to Gin's condition?), Hotarubi no Mori e is a melodic, slow-paced, calmer movie. And it's around half the length of a normal movie. I think that says a lot of its impact on me. I just fell in love with Gin the same way that Hotaru did, and I had fun with Hotaru the same way that Gin did. I'm writing this review because I'm really emotional right now and I'm surprised at how much it affected me, but this is absolutely worth the watch. I don't know if I I could ever rewatch this though, just because I would probably drown in my tears, but it's a truly fulfilling experience.
