My review is spoiler-free!
Ocean Waves was not my cup of coffee though I am grateful that it was the type of film for others, while others will take a liking to it. I did not find Rikako Muto's frequent manipulation of the protagonist (Taku Morisaki) to be a rewarding experience. While she was never malicious, she strung him along by playing upon his kindness. Rikako's behavior was a form of abuse though it is never glorified, even though it is brushed aside as well. In a similar fashion, they slap one another at one point but that violence is recognized as negative by implication, which is countered by Taku's purchase of candid photos of Rikako in swimwear (it's not clear if she gave permission for candid photos of herself to be sold but it didn't seem like it). Perhaps this story is about flawed individuals finding a way to empathize with one another, as it's revealed why Rikako manipulated others and was stand-offish. However, the focus on wrong behavior, and any lessons that were learned, was upon her. My adrift thoughts on Ocean Waves: ★ My favorite scene was the college reunion scene though we're formally introduced to a character who quickly becomes prominent...only to quickly disappear. ★ There were some background scenes where the characters were still. It seemed like this was done due to budget, time, and (or) for animators' tiredness, but it was interesting to look at, as if they crowd was composed of living statues. ~ ~ ~ ★ Film Details ★ Directed by: Tomomi Mochizuki Screenplay by: Kaori Nakamura Based on: I Can Hear the Sea by Saeko Himuro Genre: Romantic Drama Release Year: 1993 ~ ~ ~ My other Studio Ghibli film reviews:
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