Suzume Review (2022) - A thoughtful, whimsical, and beautiful romp through Suzume's journey of grief, love, and self-discovery!
Happy Anime month!! We potatoes love a good theme, and we also love Anime! So, we have dubbed the month of January the month of anime for our blog! Watch and drink along with us as we have a great time diving into some wonderful stories, old and new! To start the month strong, we're diving headfirst into the whirlwind world of “Suzume”, a 2022 anime movie that's a rollercoaster of feelings, interesting and wonderful characters, and a dash of chaotic charm.
"Suzume" explores various emotional landscapes, so we want to be sure to include some trigger warnings here. The film deals with death, trauma, natural disasters and the complexities of the grieving process. Additionally, the film metaphorically addresses mental health challenges through cosmic disturbances. It's crucial to approach "Suzume" with caution if any of the mentioned triggers are likely to be upsetting. Please always take good care of yourself!
We will also do everything we can to not give too many spoilers in this review but there is likely to be some so please take that into consideration and read cautiously.
Let’s get started!
Our film begins with a little girl traversing through a beautiful landscape with a large purple sky of sparkling stars. She is breathing heavily and you can see her breath. Wherever she is, it is incredibly cold.
The little girl starts exploring the landscape around her, as pretty as it is, there are also rundown houses and old derelict buildings. She stumbles around the debris calling out, “mommy!” Not getting a response…she continues to trudge along, up a small grassy hill. Tired and cold she scrunches up on the ground burying her face in her yellow scarf.
Hearing footsteps behind her, she turns around and sees the figure of a woman. Her eyes grow huge as she stares at the woman, but we, the audience, cannot see the woman’s face. Wind billows around the little girls face as she stares...and Suzume wakes suddenly from her dream.
We potatoes felt that the dream, felt more like a memory, but it is difficult to know for sure!
We are introduced to our main character Suzume Iwato (Nichole Sakura), a typical 17-year-old residing on the lovely, and tranquil island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan. She lives with her aunt Tamaki Iwato, who has prepared her a delicious breakfast!
Suzume sits at the table to enjoy the breakfast while Tamaki (Jennifer Sun Bell) is fixing Suzume’s lunch in the kitchen. They strike up casual conversation when Tamaki mentions that she will be home later than usual today. Suzume gets excited, “Huh?! Do you have a date?! Take all night then! I’m good!”
Tamaki, aghast, assures Suzume that she is, in fact, NOT going on a date! She will just be working late! Suzume shrugs it off and goes on with her morning. Suzume sets off for school, and we get a quaint picture of Suzume's routine existence.
However! Suzume's routine is jolted and takes an intriguing turn when she encounters a strange but handsome young man while riding her bike to school. This mysterious individual stops her and cryptically mentions looking for ruins…and a door. Suzume lets him know about an abandoned town that is close by, to which the man thanks her and continues on his way. Suzume’s curiosity is sparked!
She makes it down the hill, and is stopped waiting for a train to pass…when she makes an impulsive decision! Rather than heading to school, Suzume turns around and heads back! Her friends that also got caught waiting for the train to pass are baffled, as she turns around and bikes away!
She bikes her way to the ruins that she had guided the stranger to earlier, and embarks on a quest to find the stranger and the enigmatic door. Searching through the ruins…she finds it! A single, lone door with no walls attached to it standing in the middle of a derelict, roofless, completely open to the elements, building.
The door does not actually look at all like it should be there. The door is white, but the paint is chipping off, and some vines are growing on it. Along with the door, the floor of the room is sparkling with water.
Not enough water to fall into, more like a giant puddle of clear, glittering water surrounding the singular white door at the center of the room.
Suzume is astounded, she was not actually expecting to find any door that actually stood out in any way… but this door definitely does.
She walks up to the door, splashing lightly as she goes…and opens the door. The door reveals a beautiful landscape! The same landscape with the bright stars as her dream! But, oh my, we potatoes do have to say, every action has its consequences!
Confounded, Suzume tries to step in, but finds that she can’t! She just steps back into her own world. She tries several times to no avail, but in the process she bumps into a small statue immersed in the water. Curious, she stoops down and pulls the statue up to get a better look.
It takes some effort to pull the statue out of the ground but she manages. The statue appears to be cat like in shape, and for some reason…the bottom of the statue is covered in ice.
“It’s cold…” she remarks as she turns back to the door with the statue in hand. A split second later the statue is no longer a statue! It is now a small furry creature in her hands!
Suzume shouts, and tosses the creature away from her in shock and surprise! The little white bundle runs away, appearing to be developing further as it goes!
Suzume stands there shaken, and decides that she is done with the weirdness for today! She returns to school, and tries to go about her day normally. But of course the door, the little statue, the strange man…all of this sets the stage for an unforeseen and surprising adventure…We are going to wrap it up here as this film has a lot going on and we do not want to give too much of this delightful trip away!
As the movie progresses Suzume follows the trail of the strange man, Souta (Josh Keaton)! The film cleverly builds tension and curiosity around the door. As we know, Suzume opened the door, which unfortunately, comes with some incredibly interesting consequences.
The film swiftly shifts gears as Suzume grapples with the aftermath of her impulsive actions! A red force, whimsically referred to as a “worm”, emerges on the horizon from said door! Suzume's ordinary life collides with the extraordinary. Setting the stage for the broader themes of the film, including the connection to Japan's seismic anxieties, and cleverly referencing the historical earthquake of 3.11.
We are on the edge of our seats as the film deftly weaves together the tapestry of Suzume's everyday life, the mysterious stranger, the tantalizing door, and the unexpected consequences that propel the story into a cosmic adventure that sets Suzume on a transformative journey.
This wonderful film is as heartwarming as it is fantastical! Souta, the stranger turned talking chair, yes, you heard that right, turned out to be a great character! We potatoes were…shocked, amused, and delighted by chair Souta! He becomes Suzume’s trusty sidekick in preventing more cosmic mishaps. Then there's the mischievous cat named Diajin (Lena Josephine Marano) who is an absolutely adorable bundle of disruption, magical fun, and mystery!
Suzume's journey introduces us to a kaleidoscope of characters, each leaving a lasting impression on her and on us potatoes! These friendships, ranging from the wise to the whimsical, enrich Suzume's self-discovery, exploring themes of connection, empathy, and the transformative power that healthy relationships can have.
We potatoes were pleased to find that "Suzume" also grapples with the darker aspects of life, providing profound insights into grief, and the human experience. The movie delves into Suzume's journey of coping with loss and grief, and does so with sensitivity; compassionately portraying the complexities of the grieving process. Which we appreciated, as grief is something we are all too familiar with.
We really enjoyed watching how the film, cleverly, and figuratively addresses trauma through the use of “cosmic disturbances.” It bravely addresses the anxiety and uncertainty that often intertwines with our lives, and the unpredictable nature of our existence. It is not always a comfortable thing, to be human. We are a species of animal that is highly intelligent and hyper aware of our own existence. While we are far from perfect by any means, we do have a shared struggle, and it is easy to get bogged down by the stress and hustle of our daily lives.
As we follow Suzume's odyssey, it becomes more and more clear that this is more than just a tale of adventure, fantasy and the human condition, it is also a coming of age story! The film tackles the complexities of identity and the all too often bumpy road of adolescence with grace, kindness and depth.
Suzume's growth is a lovely metamorphosis! She evolves from a bewildered young woman into a self-aware young adult who has taken a big step towards healing. This is a journey many of us can relate to and we potatoes, have had to undertake ourselves.
This movie showcases many human truths, and heartaches, but we potatoes feel that there is a distinct lesson here and that is to try, to the best of our ability, to embrace life's chaos. It's okay not to have everything figured out. Sometimes, we have to navigate a sea of pain, and questionable choices to reach self-awareness, and self-actualization. Sometimes, we need to seek help from others so that we may grow as individuals, and hopefully by extension, help others to grow in the process.
Suzume's story is a great reminder that we are all in this together. We are all dealing with the same collective struggle, every day, simply just trying to find our way through all of the chaos. To find meaning, connections, happiness and love. We potatoes will openly admit that this movie made us cry.
This is a wonderful film, the voice acting was superb and the writing, while lacking in some areas, is still incredibly well done. The character development is “chef’s kiss” and the characters themselves are relatable and compelling!
Lastly though, we absolutely can’t forget to mention what an absolute visual feast "Suzume" is! The movie is breathtaking to watch! The animation is stunning and the animators know it! They went a little ham on making sure we saw a lot of stunning scenery shots. We could tell that they were extremely proud of their visuals and we can’t blame them!!
Imagine a master painter, crafting scenes that are nothing short of spellbinding. The lighting is impeccable. The animation is a seamless blend of fantasy and reality, creating a world that's as breathtakingly enchanting as it is relatable. Fantasy elements blend seamlessly with the beauty of the natural world, producing shots that are absolutely stunning. Every frame is a testament to the artistic prowess behind this masterpiece!
Is “Suzume” a perfect film though? No, there were some issues in navigating the fantasy. A lot of important factors were not fully explained as well as they should have been, and Suzume’s love story is somewhat awkward and a bit cringe. But despite that, overall the film’s depth, visual beauty, themes and amazing character development well makes up for its pitfalls to us potatoes.
So, to all you fellow anime lovers out there, we highly encourage you to let "Suzume" take you on a mesmerizing journey. It's an anime roller-coaster that mirrors the chaotic, confusing, yet wonderfully delightful journey of life. If you are someone who enjoys tales that seamlessly intertwine heartfelt drama, mystical journeys, healing and the poignant ups and downs of growing up, then "Suzume" is an absolute must-watch for you! Let us allow “Suzume” remind us that we are all here, connected in our humanness, and we all deserve to give ourselves and others kindness and grace. Here's to "Suzume" and its magical tapestry of life, friendship, and love!
We give this movie 5 out of 5 Matcha cocktails!
The Suzume Drinking Game
Take a sip anytime:
1. A special door opens or is opened
2. Anyone struggles to close a door
3. Anyone says "Door" or "Gate"
4. A special door is on screen
5. A lock is unlocked or locked
6. "Worms" are mentioned or on screen
7. A "worm" explodes into water
8. Anyone says "Suzume"
9. Anyone mentions "Keystones"
10. The chair runs
11. Any cat talks
12. Serizawa has car trouble
13. Suzume has a flashback or a dream
14. Anyone mentions "Ruins" or Abandoned places
15. An earthquake warning pings on a phone
16. Anyone chants a prayer
17. Souta verbally warns Suzume of danger or shows concern for her
18. Scenic or beautiful scenery shots
What did you think? Have you seen this movie? Did you like the movie? Did you hate it? What movies should we watch? Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly!