Drawing Closer: The Tragedy of Loving in Limited Time

I've never written a movie review before, but this film made me want to so badly. We often hear about how realistic Japanese movies are, they usually end in tragedy or confront harsh realities, which makes them deeply relatable to the world we live in.

This is a beautiful yet tragic love story between a boy who was told he had only one year to live and a girl who had only six months. The film is an adaptation of Ao Morita’s novel, Yomei Hantoshi no Kimi to Deatta Hanashi. 

I’d definitely give a 10-star rating to the actors, who fully immersed themselves in their roles, making the story feel real. I completely forgot about the line between fiction and reality, and I was captivated by how they expressed their emotions so genuinely.

One of my favorite dialogues is: “I’m afraid of dying… but I’m looking forward to it,” spoken by Haruna, the female protagonist, who knew she had only six months to live. Despite knowing her fate, she accepts death calmly. That’s one of the most optimistic perspectives on death I’ve ever encountered, even after reading confessional poetry by Plath and Sexton.

The movie also offers a unique explanation of flowers and their meanings. The main flower used is the gerbera, which signifies hope. Although they never confess their love until the very end, Haruna draws three gerberas for Akito before she dies. He discovers their meaning, “I love you”, when he looks at her phone while hospitalized, with less than five months left to live. This beautifully emphasizes love that transcends death.

The emotions of both protagonists are also showcased through their art, as they are both artists. Akito draws the same picture of heaven that Haruna had drawn at the beginning of the movie, a symbol of her anticipation for the afterlife.

The film never shows physical expressions of love, which reinforces the idea that true love doesn’t rely on expectations. It’s about standing by the person you care about and supporting them through their struggles. 

They become each other’s safe place. Akito’s act of bringing gerberas every time he visits her, just to brighten her otherwise gloomy hospital environment, shows his care and dedication. True love, the film gently reminds us, doesn’t require begging or pleading, it’s shown through small, meaningful gestures.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone. It’s one of the best films I’ve ever watched. Though the story of Akito and Haruna is incomplete, their love story will live forever.