Our lives are filled with what ifs. We constantly go back and reexamine the parts of our life and wonder what would have happened if something had turned out better or worse. The idea can be madding, but Fireworks takes that idea and gives it’s characters the best possible outcome. This beautiful story takes us back to our youth and our experiences of first love.
Round or Flat
Norimichi Shimada and his friends have a crush on Nazuna Oikawa, the most beautiful girl in school. She is getting ready to move with her family. A chance encounter at a swimming pool leads to Norimichi and Nazuna going out on a date. It ends as Nazuna is taken home by her parents, but time suddenly reverses and the characters are back at the swimming pool. Will events take the same course as before?
The beauty of this story is that no real explanation is given for time reversing. The catalysis seems to be a strange glass marble, but this is just a Mcguffin to get the plot moving. The strength of this movie is that we feel that the two characters belong together and the movie agrees. Instead of finding ways to tear the couple apart, it gives them infinite chances to be together. There is no real villain, just other people who get in the way of a perfect night.
Side or Bottom
This anime is based on a live action move. It is so much better in the animated retelling. The art style is beyond gorgeous, and everything looks and moves as if it was alive. There are a few visual touches, such as hints the characters are not in the original time line, but for the most part the movie plays it straight. Nazuna is perfection, and Norimichi is the guy we root for. The soundtrack hits all the right notes as it compliments the scenes we are seeing.
Released in Japan last year, Western audiences will finally get their look at this fantastic film. There are special screening happening this week and then the film will roll out to other markets. Do yourself a favor and get swept up in a world were love always wins and the universe is fair. Fireworks shows that sometimes, what ifs can actually come true.
