Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou

There’s a lot to be said for the creative concept behind this movie; however, the execution leaves much to be desired. The script leans heavily on melodrama, and the characters feel shallow, relying on stereotype to force a sense of catharsis that too often misses the mark. Their high-pitched voices, perpetually on the brink of emotional hysterics, make it difficult to relate to any dialogue as genuine. Entire scenes feel cringeworthy and contrived. Even timings felt off; this was most notable during that awkward bridge scene. It was as if the entire sequence was out of sync, every reaction a heartbeat late, with in the middle of chaos moments that felt like people were still drawn to fit a casual Sunday market stroll rather than the actual action scene. But sometimes there were glimpses of better forces at work, the few scenes that were good had promise, and maybe other attempts might live up to that. Visually the movie looked great with certain shots that were truly remarkable. And towards the end, somehow, the movie succeeded in pulling me in for a moment and had me invested. Had potential, but ultimately couldn’t make the pieces fit.

I was told by a few friends that this movie would be the equivalent of the likes of 'Your Name' and 'A Silent Voice' which I consider the pinnacle of Anime movie excellence. What these tall claims state though, was nowhere near what I experienced from this movie. I mean this in a bad way, not at all positive. Animations and Soundtrack: At the moment, the only positive aspects of the film I can really justify is the artstyle that is NOT cg as well as the score. Animation in this film was buttery smooth. The animations were crisp, finely woven with the world and just really really fricken cute. What stains this, however, is that godawful cg. The Renato look so damn ugly, and I don't understand how why they didn't animate it instead because it looks like a fricken animatronic: lifeless and dead. It's especially concerning how this was a high budget movie and not some boned in episode of a certain anime show called Overlord Season 3. Other than that, great animations all around. The soundtrack on this film is phenomenal. Every track was deeply engrossed with the film and meant something rather than a few tunes that accompany the animation. If there is one thing that this film matches in quality with the top guns, it is the soundtrack; easily up there with A Silent Voice and Devilman Crybaby. Story: Severely cluttered, lacking and unfocused. The first half of this film was well introduced. The characters were introduced swiftly and very clearly to the viewer and the themes were easily captured in being about paternal love. That's cool and all, but the execution of said theme as the movie progresses was what really irks me. There were way too much timeskips in this film. I get that the film was trying to show the maturing nature of Ariel, but Story development based on just timeskips alone is generally going to be pretty damn mediocre (A Silent Voice and The Anthem of the Heart does a much better job at story development across several years through the use of timeskips but are minimal and not at all distracting compared to this garbage mumbo jumbo). The film had a pretty awful worldbuild as well. As the film progresses, you'll start to notice many, many things being introduced with absolutely no information accompanying it. You are introduced with the kingdoms yet they are just mere mentions, nothing more. I don't understand at all how they relate to each other. You are introduced to the renato, dragons that are utilized by a kingdom in war and dying by a disease; yet this very disease is unexplained, as I've said, merely mentioned. The stars of the show, the eternally young Iophorials (I hope I spelled it right) are not explained properly at all, lacking in the basics of how they even function. The concept of Hibiol is briefly touched upon, same old; merely mentioned and never explained. I just don't understand how people would stand to give this story a 8,9,10 with such glaring errors and mistakes. This film had plotholes the size of the Moon, it felt rushed in at times and wasn't coherently sorted at all. IMO this story is understandable but really, really terribly executed; probably the worst I've ever seen. More times than not, you'll be asking 'Who is this guy?, what's wrong with this guy?, why is this happening?' rather than enjoying the film, which really should not be happening. Characters: Firstly, the main characters of this film: Maquia and Ariel. The film went from baby Ariel to adult Ariel in a quarter of the movie and it simply wasn't enough. Ariel had so little development that there really was no empathy or sympathy at all for him. At the climax of his arc, all I could think of was how poorly developed this character was. He comes of as snotty and an overall brat which I had guess wasn't what the film was aiming for. His motives were unclear, his character; confusingly elaborate. If this film focused on just one stage of his childhood likewise to A Silent Voice, watchers would feel for him, understand him. The film doesn't do this. They try to shove every minor moment that Ariel had, trying to create a mishmash character development out of irrelevant timeskips. The result was sadly not up to par. Maquia, on the other hand was the better character. Out of the entire film, she was the only one that had great character development but her entire character was based on the trope of a kid parent learning to be a parent; which isn't inspiring but hey it gets the job done, though it really doesn't bring praise to this movie. The rest of the cast was used very,very,very unwisely. This exact film is what I call a show without secondary characters as they are all third rate. Not a single character in this film had a redeemable moment outside of Maquia and Ariel. Characters are popped in as instantly as they are popped out. Connections are rarely made and their actions are just mysterious and irrelevant as their role within the movie As I watch the events unfold I'll often be wondering to myself 'why does this even matter?' 'Wait, who tf this guy? Why should I care?' Precisely because not a single of these characters were developed well. Enjoyment: Did I enjoy it? I want to say I did. I really do. But there was way too much to consider that just pulled my overall experience level down. If you're looking at these reviews and seeing these 9s and 10s and expecting something of legendary status like A Silent Voice and Your Name, prepare to be disappointed because as it stands, this film is nowhere near the quality of the king and queen of anime films. This is my first review, written when I should've been studying exams at 12 in the morning xd. If you spent the time to read my wall of text, god fricken bless you >.<

Me and my friend were eagerly wanting to find a new movie to gaze our eyes upon. When we stumbled about this movie. It had decent reviews and ranked quite high on MAL so we decided, why not, and gave it a watch. few seconds in and we were already in awe of the art. we got excited. Then as the first character stumbled on my screen I saw they had no nose and thought huh that weird. Basically no one had a nose so ummmm yeh no dropped it. if u wanna watch a movie with people who run around with no nose watch this. They probably all stink because they can't smell anything.

I gotta say I'm a little disappointing at this movie. It was enjoyable, but i just wasn't really feeling it. The story, while unique and definitely sounded cool, was going so fast i was left unattached and uninterested in the characters and story. I just couldn't 'get into it'. I would've liked to see this in a series format rather than a movie, because it has a lot of potential but just fell short due to the time constraint of a movie. That aside, it had an amazing ending which definitely boosted my opinion on the movie as it ended on a high note. The art/animation and sound were amazing. The characters were cool but as stated above i didn't really feel attached to them. I recommend people to watch this if you have the time, almost everyone else i watched it with absolutely loved it.

Let's be honest and clear the only good thing about this piece is backgrounds. There are good, but not amazing. But that's not even half of the issue. Characters. Beginning with design and ending with what comes out of them is straightforward terrible. I didn't shed a single tear unlike most. I guess they haven't seen something truly touching. It's almost 2 hours long, but first half was just wasted on god only knows what. Drama for the sake of drama, banal lines and flat characters that aren't developing but focused on one idea that's not driving the story or them anywhere. Click. One of the main characters decides to move on (thank god!). Click. He's in the army now. Click. He got his childhood chick pregnant. That happens in less than 30 minutes after that wasted first half. There are couple of good moments but that's not enough from stopping you from breaking the screen. I wish they all died a painful death. But no. My wishes won't come true. Half are nearly (or completely) immortal. The other half lived an overall peaceful life. There's almost nothing about the world, situations or story overall that can involve, they focus on annoying characters instead.

Directed by the acclaimed Mari Okada, "Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou" is a deeply emotional and visually stunning masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Known for her exceptional work in crafting intricate narratives, Okada brings her signature touch to this film, weaving a tale that resonates with both fantasy and the universal truths of the human experience. The story follows Maquia, a young girl from a unique race of beings, as she navigates the complexities of love, loss, and motherhood. Through Maquia's journey, Okada delicately explores themes of time, connection, and the inevitable pain of parting, making the film a powerful exploration of the human condition. Mari Okada, who has written numerous beloved anime series, makes her directorial debut with this film, and her unique storytelling shines through every frame. Her ability to convey raw emotion and complex relationships is on full display, as she masterfully blends fantasy elements with deeply relatable human experiences. The world is richly detailed and beautifully animated, creating a sense of wonder that draws the audience into its magical realm. Yet, it is the emotional depth of the characters that truly captivates, as Okada brings to life their struggles, desires, and vulnerabilities in a way that feels both timeless and profoundly real. The film's visual beauty is matched by its narrative elegance. From the stunning landscapes to the meticulously crafted character designs, every element of the animation serves to enhance the story's emotional impact. The music, composed by Kenji Kawai, further elevates the film, with its hauntingly beautiful score perfectly complementing the poignant moments of the story. Together, the visuals and music create a cinematic experience that is both ethereal and deeply moving, immersing the audience in a world where the passage of time is both a blessing and a curse. "Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou" is not just a film, but a profound meditation on life, love, and the bonds that connect us all. Mari Okada's directorial vision, combined with the film's breathtaking animation and emotional depth, make it a truly unforgettable experience. It is a story that lingers long after the credits roll, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of the connections we hold dear.

Whether this is your kind of story or not, the execution is brilliant. The themes of immortals raising mortals and forever baby fever are admittedly not a "safe bet" like good vs. evil and (good xor bad) boy meets !(good xor bad) girl. So there are moments where the actions of our two polar opposite personalites and forever young Mama Bears Laylia and Maquia seem trite or unfortunate. But again, the execution is brilliant - and frankly those moments can either be read as true to the character OR trite, depending on the viewer. I think this is the main axis that splits people on meh/love for this movie. The story is quite ambitious - it spans a lifetime and explores all stages of life thematically through a mature lens, without focusing too much on this aspect and making room for a dynamic plot about people stuck under the rule of brutal regimes and what they must do to eek out a living, or to survive when they find themselves at the center of conflict. As that implies, there is some solid action and the stakes feel quite high. I loved this thing. The story and everything that supports it. This is a complete package. Sound and score in particular are just amazing, the art is phenomenal although not as colorful as we are used to for most of the movie - but I will point out that the muted palette contrasts with the vibrant one we begin/end the movie with. Clearly this was intentional, it reflects the arc of life and parenting which has it's greatest joys and greatest struggles roughly in step with the choice of palette here which is awesome and hilarious. It is a more "realistic" style and the major effort seems to have gone into the detailed backgrounds, scale, and overall fluidity between the characters and their environment, the mood of the scene and mode of art direction appropriate for that scene. The production values are subordinate to the vision, the direction - as it should be. Still, many of the animation "accents" and action scenes were remarkably good and hit their marks without fanfare. The subtelty is appreciated. I don't usually put sound on a pedastal, but this is a beautiful soundtrack. We open with the sound of a harp and a massive industrial loom working in sync. Slowly we are shown angles that reveal the absolutely massive extent of this process in a beautiful spire with flowing water as a scintilating cloth that filters light like a prism and is to be understood as what The Fates of greco roman mythology weave i.e. a record of the past/present/future is spun. This melancholy, free spirit progression sets the mood for the "clan of the separated" and where they live to perfection. The quality of the opening tune and shots was incredibly immersive. Right after that, we get a clear first look at the personalities of Laylia and Maquia who will drive the plot forward later on. The exuberance of Laylia and trepidation of Maquia are both conveyed in the score as well as this scene. When things do turn dark, the sounds of the dragons and fire and things getting destroyed is equally impressive, likewise for the BGM. The same could be said of the final battle scene. Top notch voice acting for everyone except ironically Maquia, who has that very high-pitched "oh, uh, um..." thing going on, completes this package. They really got the sound effects, BGM, and the voice acting to a level you rarely see. The feel is that of a sophisticated high-quality live action that isn't trying to be sophisticated, just trying to do what makes the most sense. In line with that the sound and art (which clearly draws direct inspiration from lord of the rings) reminds me of the lord of the rings movies. Most scenes found a useful synergy between sound, art/set dressing/makeup, and the script. Bravo! Spotlighting the artwork, I'll go back to the opening. They conveyed with the bright colors and remote mountaintop vista a peaceful life observing the flow of time without affecting it, beyond the reach of the mortal realm. They wear white togas and sandals, the architectural features are reminiscent of ancient greece and stonehenge, certainly there is a druidic influence to the designs - but with functioning wooden windows and doors. The interiors are reminiscent of Hobbiton from LOTR. Plain stone steps, circles and ovals, simple quarters with wooden looms and a small bed by a window, candlelight, water flowing everywhere. It is all beautiful and simple and functional - a purposeful existence. I felt they were alluding to mount olympus in that they appear to be at the peak of some mountain somewhere, but there are so many other influences it feels unique. A warm place for some of the elves, and a cold place for others - for Laylia, an ill-fated, free-spirited girl, it is a home. For Maquia, whose fate is less tragic, and who does not appear to have any loving relationships with other elves in contrast to Laylia, it is a limbo. Just as we begin to feel comfortable with the setting, amid a beautiful field of blooming flowers in the night... DRAGON RIDERS! OH SHIT! "Take the women, kill any who resist!" - well then, and now for something completely different! A completely different set of influences and elements will now be revealed as we explore the world beyond this mystical mountaintop. These dragons look incredible by the way. The mouse like Maquia, having escaped, will be shown prying the rigomortised fingers of a slain mother away from a crying baby in the night and taking him in. We see from this point on a marked change in the art direction - it is as if the idea of the place where the cloth was woven has been forgotten. It's really good. This is some game of thrones stuff in terms of the world they are able to create visually - and thankfully no one drew their starbucks onto anyone's desk. My feeling overall is that this is one of the best movies I've seen in recent memory. The package is generally appealing enough as a film, that it makes my very short lists of "Anime for people who hate Animated stuff", "family viewing", and "plan to rewatch" titles. Clearly some recycling from live action classics like lord of the rings, probably game of thrones too - but it was distinct enough to feel original. Reminds me of Kyousou Giga in a way. Something of a case study on bloodless family bonds and how to navigate them as an immortal being that hits surprisingly close to heart for the viewer, because it puts a strain on the natural version of these bonds that the average lifespan cannot. The theme of motherhood, in all its high glory and ugly desperation, overriding all other aspects of being regardless of circumstance is really what we're exploring in this movie. The grief of losing a loved one and the relative value of our bonds when they pull in opposite directions, war and the strange duality of citizenship - it is both the most and least important thing, we are both detached from and inextricably linked to the political absurditites of those who rule. It succeeds quite well most of the time in dealing with the long arc of life and intracacies of love - both a sad, and a happy ending. What glues it all together is a beautiful soundscape and score that nails every section of this story - it's not particularly original, but it is just perfect for precisely the sequences it supports. That's the +1 from a 9/10 for me, having watched the dub I have to say every supporting character does incredible work in an atypically mature style of dialogue, and the title character's more anime-traditional delicate flower voice is not much of a drag on that thankfully.

A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou, or so-called "Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms" is an amazing movie resolving around Marquia, a member of a race called the Iorph, a race that can live for hundreds of years. One day, the outside world found out about her race, attacking her homeland and kidnapping Iorph females because the king of the power-hungry kingdom wants immortality of the Iorph to his bloodline. Luckily, Marquia escaped from the power-hungry kingdom by luckily getting carried away by a Renato. The Renato carried her until it lands on a forest and dies. Marquia then found a baby in a destroyed village and decided to raise him. Naming him Ariel. Though she is inexperienced, she still tries her best to raise the baby with all she could. I'd give the story around a 9. The "mother's love" plot was quite emotional and it touched me. Nearly making me cry. However, I feel like the story is missing some important factors that if added, it may fill the unfilled gap and make the movie become a masterpiece. I also feel like the movie's slightly rushed, so I didn't really feel like I got much development from the story. For the art I'd give it around 8. Hey, don't get me wrong. The art's beautiful. But I don't really like this type of art style. That's all. Sound, 9 out of 10. Probably because it fits the scenes within the movie, especially important ones. That's all. As for character, 9 out of 10 as well. Character development is overwhelming, but could've been better if it didn't feel too rushed. I enjoyed this movie. It was so fun and entertaining that it didn't even wipe by depression from Dusk Maiden Of Amnesia. But instead added more depression into my heart. Fuck. Overall, this movie was great. Well, could've been better. But it's still great. You can watch this if you don't know what else to watch. Seriously, it's an amazing movie.

An immortal mother and her mortal son, sounds interesting. What could go wrong? A lot. Ookami Kodomo is a much better movie with a similar setting (a human mother and her mystical children) which did it right. The pacing, plot development and characters are disastrous. And in movies which should appeal to one's emotional, those are the most important features. The first quarter of the movie is decent. Spoilers ahead! One of the MCs goes from cute kid to generic rebel character to saying he'd be a responsible son to responsible parent to being an unresponsible parent within a short time. The other MC is as plain as it gets. The rest of the cast is weak, I feel like they could've been much better. Krim seemed interesting, but ended up being quite pathetic. And Leilia, the second mother, the one who wanted to see her child so much and dreamt of being free, once she becomes free and sees her child, she decides to jump of a tower and leave it all behind. What a fantastic development. The subplot, war, is actually better developed than the main plot and makes sense. The art, which was the reason I watched this, was disappointing, but that's on me, I was expecting to see more of Yoshida's art. The scenaries are gorgeous and the animation is good.The 3D animation was ok but offputting. Soundtrack is barely there. In the end, it's still somewhat enjoyable.

The ones who are reading and watching this review, I recommend you 100% to watch this movie. This movie is such a fantastic anime story which circulates you in non-ending emotions. This superb movie script was written by Mari Okada, the one famous for anohana, gundam iron blood and many more. I have yet to watch anohana but by watching the movie I can expect more of the series. I am sad that its not in higher ranks. This movie is such a underrated gem and it should be on the level of fantastic movies such as Your Name and A Silent Voice.You guys should circulate this movie around the world and share it please, I dont want to see such a best gem in lower ranks.I have also saw that there are many fans disliking the movie plot or about characters but I don't care even it had some skips this movie made my day and i enjoyed it. Story=9.5 The story is a bit skipped but overall its not that much to be considered as a worst. The story is such a emotional rollercoster which is why i had towel of mine instead of tissues. Well this movie is that much great that it will leave a impact in your heart and whenever you will remember the movie it will calm our heart. This movie looked a novel type to me but i have seen that its orginal and there is a on-going manga. Remember whenever Mari create something its always feels.For me i liked the story pretty much and i will not forget this movie in m entire life which taught me about love. Art=10 PA WORKS did a really good job. Every best scene was animated beautifully and the backgrounds were heart warming. There was also CGI animations but i still loved it anyways. The movements,sceneries and much more which i can express but will be too long to do it so. I really hope with PA WORKS to work better in the future and show us the hardwork which they shown us in this movie. Thanks for creating such a beautifull animations for this movie. Sound=10 Voice actors i salute you! They did a fantastic job and every scene matched perfectly with the character expressions just wow. The song is sad one which i really like to listen. Character=8 I can say this much the characters were also created better not best. The reason is that i will spoil you if i told you the reason so watch the movie yourself and consider it. Enjoyment=10 Really enjoyed the movie i wish to watch the similar tyoes of this kind of movie. I just watched the movie today and i can't sleep well because the movie was so great that whenever i close my eyes i can see the best scenes from this movie. Just watch the movie and rate it accordiing to your own taste as you know everyone has different taste. This review is based on my thinking and ii hope to rewatch this awesome gem movie.Thank you guys for support and wish you good luck.

I don't write reviews and I don't know how to, this is a special occasion. I'll just talk about why this is so underrated and how much degree it's supposed to be on top of how many anime. [b]Recommendation:[/b]: If you're into family themes, this one totally isn't something you'd like to miss. If you're into asdkja straight up amazing art, i'd totally recommend this one. If you're into [i]happy tears[/i] I'd recommend this one. Now for useless information... First of all, this is REALLY underrated. I really think this should be on top of 90% of the anime out there. I literally thought this was so popular that my inner hipster self was barely standing. Unfortunately, MAL says otherwise. I understand there are limits of the distribution and the availability of the anime perhaps that's why it didn't get much attention it deserved. [b]Story:[/b] it's 85% better than most anime in therms of sound. It did a great job on making an emotional connection between the watcher and the characters. Imagine how you'd make that connection on a 100 year life of a person. [b]Art:[/b] DEFINITELY 95% better than most anime out there. Lighting, details, shadow, particles, etc. It's PERFECT. [b] Even the director of Kimi no na wa was jealous of this work.[/b] (just wanted to point that out) [b]Sound:[/b] Great, I'll say it's 85% better than most anime out there. Perfect emotional timings. [b]Character:[/b] I'm not sure, because this is a whole new level of subjectivity. Again, the emotional attachment of the characters was great. I'm suppose to end it on a higher note yea? Let's just say this is one of the most overlooked anime and the level of art isn't something you'd want to miss.

Like stated in the movie and the trailer a bit, 'I don't know'. I don't know how to feel about this movie. I didn't absolutely love it, but I didn't hate it. I almost walked out of the theater, but was happy I didn't. I do not think that it deserves a 10/10 as much as some of the other films I have seen, but it does not deserve a low or average score. I took a shower to try and put my thoughts together, but I just can't. If you have the chance to see it, do it. Probably one of the biggest things that impacts me is just how hard it is for motherhood and how much it makes you appreciate your mother to the infinite degree. So +1 on that. There are some things that I have issues that are making it so I do not know. Soooo ******************SPOILERS!!!!!******************* The big issues I have with this is following how Maquia feels. Being a young 22 year old male, that has no child I cannot understand how Maquia feels to the full effect I think intended. At the early raid scene, there is suggested pedophilia rape of the people, which heavily heavily makes me want to stop and leave. Do not know why that was said or kept at all. The movie time wise, moves really fast for a very long time slows then speeds up. I didn't like just how fast it moved with Ariel and his mother Maquia on the fact it went so fast to where he is now a dad, then jumps to the point of him dying and showing what she, and he left behind. I cried at this point and thinking about it and writing makes me tear up and still cry. There is this dude that for some reason appears then just disappears at random, who is really not important, but the few moments he is on screen he is super important. Leiria is forced to bear a child with a mental kings son thinking they could create eternal life in the kingdom. She goes crazy after having this child and becomes a prisoner and not being able to see her only attachment to the world. Near the end, she finally sees her daughter who looked to be around 8ish, basically says hi, then leaves to her home and says "I will forget you. I won't write you. don't remember me." and the child smiles and accepts this, pretty much acknowledging how messed up her kingdom was to her, and her mother.

“We may not age together… but I will love you until the last flower blooms.” Maquia’s journey mirrors Heidegger’s concept of being-toward-death: to live authentically, one must embrace the temporary. Through her love for Ariel, she learns what it means to truly exist—not by preserving life, but by being present in its fragility. The film is full of metaphor: the Iorph weave cloth as a memory of life, just as Maquia weaves her emotions into the fleeting moments she shares with her son. Each thread, each choice, is a quiet rebellion against isolation. This movie doesn’t shout its message. It whispers it, gently, painfully, and beautifully.

This film goes into the topics that I've been desperately looking for; what does the weight of the human life have on someone who is nearly immortal. Seeing how Maquia dealt with the varying stages of human progression was amazing and I felt it was well portrayed. From Ariel's various rebellious stages when he was a child to his teen years and the eventual coming to terms of who his family is, I have seldom felt emotionally compelled for a story. The movie had a great ability to relay the emotions of the characters onto the audience which I think makes this movie have that much more weight. As for soundtrack I felt that everything was well done with the appropriate timing and the feeling of each of their tracks during their prospective placing. The war that occurred between various kingdoms was also well portrayed with the suspense of each of the characters fates being played incredibly well. Overall I believe this movie to get at least a solid 8/10 due to it's storytelling and portrayal of the characters to the audience.

This is a masterpiece among masterpieces. I cried a lot on this one. It was absolutely stunning. If I'm being honest, i think this is better than Violet Evergarden. Even though both are masterpieces, this one stands on top. I wish i could rate this even higher. Its been 2 days since i finished it and i still find myself thinking over and over about the story, the motherhood, the love I could feel from it. I felt so warm and loved just from this movie. This inst a recommendation, this is a must watch and there are no exceptions.

I... was not ready for this. I don't know what I expected. I'm not even sure how I found this movie. I seem to remember randomly seeing the thumbnail on a streaming website and thinking it was pretty. Safe to say, it was easily one of the best spontaneous decisions I've ever made. This movie is what you would get if you could put beauty in a bottle. The Iorphs are elf-like humanoids, pale, blonde, living isolated from the rest of the world, and their average life span is probably in the thousands of years. All they're missing are the pointy ears. Throughout history, they've come to be known as the Clan of Partings. Maquia, our protagonist (voiced by Kana Hanazawa), is merely 15 years old. She's an orphan and, as such, there are many things she doesn't understand. She wants to see the outside world and can't grasp why their village elder would advise against it. The reason why they're called the Clan of Partings is, as of yet, still mysterious to her. Unfortunately, fate is not kind enough to allow her to wallow in ignorance. When tragedy strikes and their isolated, peaceful society is destroyed, she is forced to face the world, face the reality of being a nigh-eternal being in a garden full of ephemeral flowers. Gradually, the meaning behind her people's name becomes painfully transparent to her. The sheer amount of unfair plight suffered by her and her people in this picture will break your heart, however, if there's a silver lining, then it's the technical mastery behind this project. It's not the sadness, but the beauty of the film that keeps it all together. At any given moment, you'll be at a loss between feeling heartbroken because of the story or being in awe of the background art. The film's animation is great, but it's nothing you haven't seen before. The background artwork, though, would give Makoto Shinkai a run for his money, and in fact, I enjoyed it here more than in any Shinkai film, because it was actually meaningful here. My only warning is this; in case it hasn't already dawned on you, there is a lot of drama in this film. Maybe don't watch this if you're low on tissues. Otherwise, by all means, treat yourself to this marvel.

I found it curious that a movie about the love parents have for their children would start off with a promise that such love would inevitably be lost. Maquia is very insistent on this. It is written into the premise of the movie, about how an immortal, elf-like woman tries to raise her non-immortal, very human son. This promise is repeated throughout the movie, so much so that you’d think it really was only a matter of time before she would be separated from her son. And yet, somehow, this movie is not a tragedy. Though it is mired by its frequent narrative missteps, Maquia is perhaps one of the most profound reflections on parenthood and responsibility I have ever seen. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, Mari Okada’s directorial debut, follows Maquia, a mythical, ageless being, after she rescues a baby, Ariel, and raises him as her own. It chronicles their lives as Maquia adjusts to the outside world and learns how to provide for her newborn son. Much (honestly, all) of the draw of this movie involves Maquia and Ariel’s journey across foreign lands, their bond together as mother and son, and what we can learn from how it changes over time and circumstance. And to its credit, Maquia’s chronicle of parenthood is told with surprising acuity. Maquia’s early days of raising a baby on a farm are replete with the simple joys of parenting itself. Seeing Ariel walk for the first time, or being there to hear his first words—to Maquia the movie, these are joys worth sharing, milestones in parenthood that feel like their own reward. But parenting is not just some babysitting here and there. Maquia the movie does not shy away from the uncomfortable realities of being a working parent and its newfound emotional and economic toll. A forced relocation turns into a financial disaster, with Maquia struggling to make ends meet. At home, Ariel is uncooperative, and lacks the maturity and understanding to support his mother when she’s down. Maquia the movie shows an incisiveness to parenting that feels as if it was drawn from Mari Okada’s own experience with motherhood herself, and it is certainly all the more convincing for it. Adding to Maquia’s strengths is how it sells itself as a powerful and moving film, and everything from the sophistication of its production to its loving journey of a mother and her son would speak as such. This is because Maquia is adept at keeping the “texture” of its drama intact. In its big moments, everything feels the way it should. Its ideas of parenthood and love are (supposedly) universal. Its animation is fluid, and the various subtleties of each character’s emotional states are expressed in thoroughly convincing detail. The soundtrack that plays during key moments between Maquia and her son may be one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. And that, on a basic level, is about where the strengths of this story end. Maquia the movie prides itself on being an important, heartfelt drama, but much of this drama either doesn’t land, doesn’t make sense, or both. The things these characters are saying are just too unnatural, too out of touch, too focused on some heightened dramatic reality where children swearing they will grow up to “protect” their parents (from… what, exactly?) makes those parents break down in tears. And it’s telling how blunt some of the drama is that I was rarely left with the sense that anything substantial was actually said during what should have been key moments of catharsis. Then there are the pacing issues. The frequent timeskips create tonal disconnects where characters we thought we knew spontaneously change, some for seemingly no reason. It takes active effort, as a viewer, to readjust to people behaving in ways that seem incongruent with how we have seen them only moments prior, even if the movie has some ostensible reason to do so to reflect how people change through the passage of time. One minute we see Ariel reconciling with Maquia after the stress of being a parent becomes too much for her to bear. The next minute, he’s… avoiding her? With no explanation? And then it happens again, a few scenes later? Where is the movie going with this? And what’s a Hibiol, again? And yet, this is still a movie worth applauding. Maquia is not just a drama about the trials a mother goes through in raising her son. If that’s all this movie had going for it, I would not be writing this review. Because Maquia does not just chronicle the relationship between a mother and her child. Maquia charts Ariel’s growth over his entire lifespan, from early childhood to teenage development to independence in his adult years. Suddenly, Ariel is leaving the house, he’s getting married, he’s expecting his own baby. And suddenly, you realise Maquia isn’t just about someone figuring out how to be a parent—it’s about the nature of parenting itself. The promises of parenthood are never what we expect. There is no guidebook, no instructions, no steps on parenting that teach us how to treat our children right. Being a mother is something Maquia learns only as she does it, where she has to both realise what her mistakes are and fix them, all on her own. We are constantly reminded of the lingering doubt in her mind if she has actually been a good parent at all. And as Ariel matures, new problems arise. As he grows older, he is no longer the naïve, dependent child he once used to be. But Maquia continues treating him as such, her good will getting in the way of being a good mother because she is parenting in the only way she knows how. Which was why I found it so curious this movie would insist that Maquia losing Ariel was all but inevitable. Because it’s true. Maquia does not stay with Ariel forever. This movie makes it a point to show Ariel beginning his own life as an adult, now as a husband, and a soon-to-be father of his own. The childhood innocence Maquia once saw in Ariel is lost as he grows older, and in its place is the same sense of maturity and responsibility Maquia had to learn as she was raising him. People grow, and people change, and Maquia the movie posits that, sometimes, that change is irreconcilable with the past. The idea that familial love is unconditional and forever is incompatible with this movie, where Ariel’s relationship with Maquia grows ever more strained as he matures into adulthood and becomes increasingly independent, and as he comes to terms with his own unique responsibilities that arise from it. Instead, Maquia the movie is about accepting how our children will one day grow beyond us, and how they will come to value the efforts and sacrifices they made for their children as we did for them. I don’t know if this is a good movie, but I do know it is ahead of its time. The script itself feels amateurish, and what should have been powerful and moving drama was let down by characters talking in ways that meant nothing of substance and carried little meaningful dramatic weight. It has pacing issues, tonal issues, and is full of confusing narrative ideas—some which work, and some that absolutely do not. And yet, I have never seen a movie that makes such profound statements on the nature of parenthood, and the courage of those who undertake it. Maquia is a movie that cares deeply about what being a parent really means, a movie that understands how our children will not always stay with us, and how they will grow up and learn to take on the same mantle we took on for them. As a character drama, this movie is riddled with missteps and questionable narrative choices. But as a reflection of parenthood? As an affirmation of everything that makes parenting worthwhile? It is a triumph. Sometimes, being a parent is about being there for them when it matters, and to love and nurture them all the while. And sometimes, the most loving thing you can do is to let them go.

Is this movie good? Yeah probably... but did I enjoy it? Not at all. Honestly I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. About halfway through I just wanted it to end. Story 6/10 To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of tragedy but from an objective point of view, most of the plot feels like it was written as a poor attempt to make me pity the characters or something... I guess. We're presented with the point of view of MC who lives much longer than the rest of the cast and also some other challenges people with longevity face which obviously will have its cons... except that there were so many it was pretty much a two-hour trainwreck and there was no time to breathe. Though I have to give credit to how the story was presented. As from the point of view of the MC, it was purposely fast-paced to imply how time that seems very long to us passes by her in a flash. While finishing the movie did leave a bitter taste in my mouth, I eventually realised that some plot elements which I thought didn't make sense or were downright stupid turned out to actually be really clever. I agree with the reviews that say we don't see enough of Maquia and Ariel's relationship, the main focus of the movie, in fact it was hardly there... after a certain point... while other characters I had no interest in got the spotlight. Art 10/10 I'm no art expert, like at all. But in my opinion it was beautiful, consistent, and the CG Renato was pretty awesome. If something is worth sitting this movie for, its to admire the art and animation and you can just turn the subs and sound off. (just joking but saying this in case) Sound 8/10 To be honest this might not be a fair review as I didn't even pay attention to the sound, I only noticed the ending song which is quite pleasant to listen to. Character 4/10 4 for decent because honestly the only decent development was Maquia, but only her. Learning to not fear love and all, not bad. It really makes her the only likeable character in the movie and literally everyone else just gave me a headache right until the end. Did their actions make sense? I mean they were realistic, but on an enjoyment level I couldn't bring myself to like any of them. Enjoyment 1/10 If Satan made a cinematic masterpiece it would be this. It was like... one fluff up after another. There could've been a better way to portray the concept of the story in less time (less pain), more enjoyment, more love, while still evoking the same emotion at that final ending scene but nah. I'm okay with unnecessary suffering (not a compliment, this is complete criticism like how Jack died in Titanic to save Violet when there were obviously ways for both of them to survive). For one thing I'm glad I didn't attach myself to any of the characters. Overall 6/10 Yeah I really didn't like this movie to the point I had to make a review about it. I read a similar manga where there were many time skips in 6 chapters (from birth to death and to heaven and then the afterlife) and I loved and cried 10x more for that manga than this movie so just being honest, they probably did something wrong. I didn't like Your Lie in April either (which is hugely popular and many people can safely call a masterpiece) so I think as a rule of thumb - if you liked Your Lie in April then you should watch this and if you didn't then don't.

Mary Okada as a director and studio P.A. Works were able to reveal their full potential with "Maquia : when the promised flower blooms" I've actually seen a lot of bad reviews for it, probable reasons are : -Early subs for the movie (pre blu-ray releases fansubs) are really messy : sentences are badly turned, which makes some scenes lose sense(like the one between Maquia and Krill). Moreover there are a lot of timeskips thus the viewer needs full attention to get in the flow of the movie. -Some people just hate Mary Okada or don't connect with her works. She has a unique style of storytelling and pacing that is different from what you usually see in anime productions. -Lastly you need a certain emotional maturity to fully grasp Maquia and Ariel motivations. Thus I wouldn't recommend the movie to teens. The reason being that teenagers generally don't have enough retrospective on their own lives to understand and feel empathy towards the mother and child relationship that Maquia and Ariel have. Each of us have at some point acted cold towards our mothers and then reconciliated with them towards early adulthood, and that is the accuracy in the interactions between Maquia and Ariel that makes it such a good movie. I was laughing when Maquia and Ariel were laughing, I was crying when they were crying and I was cringing when Ariel was doing something stupid because I have also been there before, the way they interacted felt so real to me. The art was georgeous especially background art and the character designer Akihiko Yoshida (Nier Automata, Final fantasy tactics) models blend in well with it. Another highlight is the sound : voice actors for Maquia, Leila and both V.A. for Ariel ( child and adult) made a poignant performance. The ost is also really pleasant to the ears and is timed well with the strong moments from the movie making them even stronger. You could however nitpick about the lack of variety in it. In conclusion: Maquia is a tale about motherhood and the shapes it can take and it capitalises on the empathy one will feel towards its characters. However once it grips you, you're in for a rollercoaster of emotions comfirming Okada's "genius of character drama" title.

I wanted to like this movie, I really did. The art and music are lovely and the story has so much potential but it continually falls flat of what it clearly wanted to be. It momentarily touches on a lot of deep emotional and philosophical concepts but fails to actually explore a single one of them in a meaningful way. The biggest failing this movie has is that it continually chooses to "tell" instead of "show". Everything we learn about every character in this movie is because they outright say "I feel [x]!" and we're expected to just go along with it despite there often being absolutely nothing to back up the feelings being expressed. After watching the two main two characters for a full two hours I genuinely could not describe their personalities aside from what they've outright said they feel about one another (which is honestly pretty undefined). They are given no real temperament, likes or dislikes, or motivation to do the things they do. The backing characters are even worse - they usually show up only to say something that's supposed to be thought-provoking or emotional and then vanish again. For a movie that's centered around the concept of the passage of time, the plot is also all over the place. We are given no concrete sense of how much time has passed between scenes and it skips around constantly. The politics of the world/country/etc, for example, are mentioned in broad strokes from time to time but are never elaborated on despite being treated like they're an important part of the plot. What we do get is a lot of what I'll call "feelings porn" - sudden, overtly dramatic scenes that basically hit the viewer over the head with "[x] sad thing is happening and this is why you should feel sad about it!!". Anyway, I'm glad some people enjoyed this movie but if you're looking for something fleshed-out and profound this one isn't for you.