Sometimes the answer is as simple as learning to listen.|Sep. 17, 2016|Japan|130 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Animation;Drama
Description: A Silent Voice is a 2016 Japanese animated film that follows the story of Shoya Ishida, a high school student who plans to end his life but changes his mind to address a lingering issue from his past. In his sixth-grade class, Shoya and his friends bullied a deaf transfer student named Shoko Nishimiya. When the school discovered the bullying, Shoya was blamed and became the target of his classmates’ scorn. This experience left him isolated and filled with regret.
Years later, Shoya, now a lonely and socially withdrawn teenager, decides to seek out Shoko to return a notebook she left behind and apologize for his actions. During their reunion, Shoya nervously asks Shoko to be friends instead of directly apologizing. Shoko agrees, and Shoya begins his journey to make amends for his past behavior. Along the way, he befriends another outcast, Tomohiro Nagatsuka, after helping him deal with a bully.
A pivotal moment occurs when Shoya accidentally drops Shoko’s notebook into a river and jumps in to retrieve it, breaking the rules. This incident leads to his suspension after Shoko’s younger sister, Yuzuru, posts a photo of him online as an act of revenge. However, Shoya eventually reconciles with Yuzuru, and they develop a friendship.
The film explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the struggles of communication, as Shoya works to overcome his guilt and rebuild his relationships.
Cast director: Naoko Yamada
Cast actor: Miyu Irino, Saori Hayami, Aoi Yuki, Kensho Ono, Yuki Kaneko, Yui Ishikawa, Megumi Han, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Mayu Matsuoka, Sachiko Kojima
Original name: 映画 聲の形