A Gentle Breeze in the Village (2007)

I first heard about this movie through some reviews of the director, Nobuhiro Yamashita. It is a simple "slice of life" story with a meandering romance of sorts between teenager Soya and the new boy in her village, Hiromi.

The town's children are the main characters - they study, socialize and scare each other - but that doesn't mean viewers don't catch glimpses of adult life and troubles as well. Soya and Hiromi both grow and change during the film - it's a bit like watching a plant grow from a seed to a bloom. Enjoy it as it happens. I think it would be an easy film to re-watch every so often just as it is charming to look at pictures from your youth.

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Story: It sounds like a cute little love story between Soyo and Hiromi and it is. Well, it is more awkward than cute but that’s the charm. In my opinion, that’s all this movie has going for it. It was rather boring with no plot line at all. Just a movie about a small town with 7 kids under the age of 15. Literally, that’s all. They all walk to school together, go swimming together and when someone actually moves into the village and it’s a boy, things get interesting.

Despite the boring plot, that basically consists of Soyo saying the wrong things to the wrong people and trading her first kiss for Hiromi’s jacket, it was kind of pleasant. The village is small and time seems to pass by slowly. It gives you the sense that everything is peaceful and relaxing. It’s the kind of movie where it reteaches you the values of friendship and puppy love.

It doesn’t have a dynamic plot, which most people like. It is more scenic, quiet, and dealing with the small things that happen in a village where everyone has known each other since birth. It wasn’t that bad of a movie, just one where I had to force myself to finish it. And I only did so because of Masaki Okada.

Music: In addition to an almost non-existent plot, the music is pretty much the same: non-existent.

Cast/Acting: I mentioned earlier that parts of the movie were awkward. I don’t mean the director or the script. There was a scene where Soyo wanted to kiss Hiromi, but never having really kissed a boy before she’s bad and they bump teeth. Kaho and Masaki Okada were very good at acting as an awkward couple and being out of place. They are both amazing actors and had such great chemistry. He really seemed like a horny boy from Tokyo, being forced to live in the sticks. Well, he isn’t really ‘horny’ per say. He tries to kiss Soyo several times without her realizing it, or really wanting it (at the moment). She even catches him talking on the phone about their interactions to his friends in the city.


The extended cast was great too. The other school children all seemed very close and did a great job acting as friends too. You don’t really see much of the parents, expect for Soyo’s and Hiromi’s mother.

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