Dec. 20, 2019|Japan|168 Min.|n/A
Genre: Animation;Drama;War
Description: In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World is a 2019 Japanese animated film that tells a poignant story set during World War II. The narrative follows Suzu, a cheerful young woman from the seaside town of Eba near Hiroshima. In 1943, at the age of 18, Suzu marries Shusaku, a childhood acquaintance, and moves to Kure City, a major naval port located 15 miles from Hiroshima. As Suzu adapts to her new life as a navy civilian, the escalating Pacific War begins to impact her community.
As food shortages become widespread, the government introduces rationing, and preparations for air raid warnings and evacuations commence. Suzu, now a housewife, takes on responsibilities within her neighborhood, overseeing food distribution and participating in air raid training. She even repurposes traditional clothing like kimonos into practical garments for emergencies. Her family also builds an air-raid shelter in their garden.
Suzu’s home in Kure overlooks the harbor, where she enjoys watching ships, including the iconic battleships Yamato and Musashi, with her niece, Harumi. However, her simple joys are interrupted when the military police nearly accuse her of espionage. In late 1944, Suzu reconnects with Tetsu, a childhood friend stationed in Kure as a sailor on the cruiser Aoba. Shusaku, understanding the gravity of the situation, allows Suzu and Tetsu to spend time together, knowing it might be their last meeting. By the following spring, Shusaku is drafted into the Navy and stationed in Otake City.
In 1945, the U.S. intensifies air raids on Japan, targeting Kure’s naval facilities. Amidst the chaos, Suzu suffers devastating losses: her brother Yōichi dies, and a bomb explosion claims her niece and her own right hand. Struggling with depression, she contemplates returning to her hometown in Hiroshima for the summer festival. When unable to see a doctor, she delays her trip. That morning, Suzu witnesses a strange light, a quake, and a massive cloud rising over Hiroshima City. She soon learns of the catastrophic atomic bomb that has devastated the city, leaving her desperate for news of her family.
Cast director: Sunao Katabuchi
Cast actor: Non, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Natsuki Inaba, Minori Omi, Daisuke Ono, Megumi Han, Nanase Iwai, Shigeru Ushiyama, Mayumi Shintani, Hisako Kyoda
Original name: この世界の（さらにいくつもの）片隅に