‘Weathering With You’

“Weathering With You” (Tenki-no-ko) is Makoto Shinkai’s new movie following his previous successful hit, “Your Name” (Kimi-no-na-wa), which was released last summer. “Weathering With You” tells the story of a teenage boy called Hodaka Morishima (voiced by Kotaro Daigo), a runaway who wants to escape the countryside and see what Tokyo has to offer. There he meets an enthusiastic yet mysterious girl, Hina Amano (Nana Mori), an orphan who is trying to figure out her life and also trying her best to take care of her little brother. What makes her even more mysterious is the fact that she can control the weather, as in harnessing psychic-like weather powers, a “real-life hare-onna” (someone who can stop the rain and make the sunshine). Together they start a weather-controlling business, a service where they are paid to stop the rain. Their chemistry evokes a familiar, warm, fuzzy feeling: the start of a new yet strong friendship. 

This movie is a lot more than just two teenagers floundering about and starting a dodgy weather business. Instead, it reveals many thought-provoking moments about climate change, and how people just passively accept it and go on with their everyday lives. The ending reveals the stark contrast between how cynical adults and optimistic teenagers view the world, and for some viewers, the ending will be tear rendering.

Another thing that stands out is Shinkai’s meticulous attention to detail. From the cacophony the rain creates when hitting the umbrella or the concrete sidewalk, to the slight gestures of the characters. With the various techniques Shinkai uses, at the end of the movie, you can’t help but feel like you experienced the whole journey along with the characters. And as the credit scene rolls, you come to the realization that you are in a black room with a huge screen, not in the middle of a rainstorm running for your life.