“Time waits for no one.” That’s the difficult lesson that Makoto Konno, a tomboyish high school student and the main character of The Girl Who Leapt through Time, was forced to learn as she suddenly gained the power to travel back in time.

It was just a normal, lazy school day, when Makoto fell in the school’s science lab and realized that she can go back in time by making big jumps. At first, she used the ability for small things: gain better grades, avoid accidents in Home Ec class, and eat a dessert before her sister does. But pretty soon she is using the ability to avoid situations that might affect her friendships with Chiaki Mamiya and Kōsuke Tsuda. Instead of making choices, she goes back in time and prevents the event from happening. Sure, others might find her acting a little weird, and there are some unexpected results (like matchmaking Chiaki with her classmate), but at least she is able to keep her life relatively the same… Right?

Yet her choices begin to catch up to her, and she sees that some choices must be made, or she will risk losing her friends forever. Unfortunately, that is also when she realizes that she only has limited trips back in time. With only a few leaps left, can she go back and make the correct decisions to save everyone?

Poignant and bittersweet, The Girl Who Leapt through Time deals with growing up and facing life’s responsibilities. Although this was an animated science fiction, you can feel the film was carefully directed to highlight Makoto’s youth and growth. I especially like one sustained shot, late in the movie, that shows Makoto just running and panting and running and panting. It was a long and boring shot, but it’s great because it screams about the movie’s theme, and “hey! this is important to her”. It’s attention to that sort of rhythm, and the hopeful/regretful tone that made me enjoy this. I recommend for you to go see it.

Tagged: on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 · 2 Comments »