My Mediocre Miracle

I decided to track down the film Mai Mai Miracle due to a brief thumbs-up bestowed upon it by an Anime World Order podcast I recently downloaded. Director Sunao Katabuchi not only has a relatively-anticipated movie in the works (In This Corner of the World), but also directed Black Lagoon, a series that has hovered towards the top of my pile of shame for years now. After viewing Mai Mai Miracle, I'm certainly looking forward to this guy's next work...but also hoping he cleans up a few things in the process.

MMM's greatest strength by far is its impeccable sense of time and place. Postwar Japan has seldom been more fully-realized, from subtle touches like the presence of American soldiers in the port district, to more overt ones like an ice vendor, or the uneasiness shown towards Kiiko, the affluent girl whose family embraces Western culture. The flashbacks to ancient times show the same care; every villager in the crowd scenes seems to have a specific reason for being there at that hour. It also does a fair enough job with the characters, although it is mostly just children goofing off.

That said, MMM does feel much more like a trifle than a truly unforgettable, immersive experience. I'd say this is because some of the themes don't really shine through like they should. We get by the end that we should hold onto our innocence, optimism, and childlike wonder in spite of the adult world's inevitable approach, but the main conflict that sets this up frankly isn't pulled off very well. It comes right out of nowhere, is a heck of a lot darker than the kiddie dickings-around that preceded it, and kicks a relatively flat side character into the limelight where he clearly doesn't belong. Furthermore, the aforementioned character of Kiiko really doesn't get developed as she should; while she comes out of her shell as the movie progresses, she has no role whatsoever in the climax, thanks to the presumed plot-jacking performed by less interesting characters. And while I'm harping about elements without a point, the concurrent plot we see in flashbacks to ancient times is blunt as all hell.

I liked this flick, but a classic for the ages this is not. The setting is always much richer, more vibrant, and more interesting than what is happening to the characters. The kids themselves are amusing enough to watch, sure, but it is just kids dicking around in the 50s until things decide to get a bit too real at the end. A clearer conflict throughout the runtime would have done wonders for this anime, although maybe that's just me bucking against the “slice-of-life” feel that Katabuchi clearly has a thing for.

If nothing else, I'm expecting In This Corner of the World to feel more authentic than almost any other period piece ever. Oh, and I feel a little more shameful for never having watched Black Lagoon. Let me know in the comments about what I've been missing, or if you have any thoughts on Katabuchi's directorial style. I'd also love to hear about any other works you think have a particularly rich setting; it's one element I think is absolutely crucial to producing a film/show that isn't forgotten.