One day, seven middle school students found the mysterious castle that their elves teleported to the other side of the bedroom mirror. Somewhere in the castle there is a hidden room and a key to open it. The first of them to do so may have their wish granted. However, none of the kids were too excited about the prize. Instead, the castle becomes their safe space where they can escape the problems of everyday life and, through their newfound friendship, begin to heal their myriad interpersonal wounds.
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193333 193333193333 291 What it boils down to is a commentary on Japan’s most prevalent problem: school bullying. The point-of-view character in the movie, Xin, is so bullied that not only can’t go to school, but she can’t even explain what happened to her parents for fear of reliving the trauma. Of course, due to a lack of communication, her parents were unable to understand or give her the support she needed, leaving her alone at home for months on end. 206 291 Outside the castle, there is only one person trying to understand and help Xin: Mrs. Bei Dao, a teacher at a school for bullied children. She went above and beyond to check on Cocolo and talk to her parents and other teachers – not trying to “fix” Cocolo, but to let her know that she has someone she can count on no matter where and when. Of course, while the movie doesn’t advocate for someone like Mrs. Kitajima to tackle bullying, it quickly becomes clear that her empathy at least gives Kokoro and the other kids a lifeline when they need it most. 206
Another way Heart can begin to heal is through the other middle school students she meets at the castle. Everyone has similar issues – like the bullying she faces or the abuse of her parents. While each of them puts on various poses, being around others who have gone through similar experiences means that each is more empathetic and kind—unwilling to be the monster that terrorizes them. While they make mistakes and missteps from time to time—some people don’t get along, after all—the air of companionship ultimately allows many characters to open up to whatever they’re facing and work together to move forward. 206 291’s exploration of bullying and how to combat it (along with other domestic issues) are all connected by a fantastical mystery. What is a castle? Where did it come from? Why were each of them chosen? How are they connected? Who is the wolf-masked girl who acts as their gamekeeper/caretaker? Can the secret chamber of the castle really grant any wish? Is it true that wolves will come and eat them if they violate the rules of the castle? 206 193333 Also, thanks to the passing minutes, there is always a looming sense of urgency in the film. Our seven heroes have just one year to get their wish granted (if they even choose to go that route) and heal enough to survive in a world without the safety and companionship of the castle. Because of this, the film never drags, despite its main focus on our hero’s trauma and subsequent personal recovery. Instead, it feels like they never have enough time to get everything they need done before time runs out. 206 193333 As for the visuals, the film is by no means a powerhouse of animation, but the backgrounds do stand out. With them alone, we could quickly grasp the layout of the castle and know exactly where each of our characters was in each scene. This is especially important when things get busier towards the end of the movie. The scenes depicting each of the seven children’s traumatic moments stand out, and the horror and dread of these situations are rendered beautifully — even if you haven’t experienced a similar event in your lifetime. 206 291 On the aural side, music played a role but was largely forgotten. However, the ending theme song Yuuri’s “Merry Go Round,” played during the film’s credits and emotional epilogue, hits hard — even listening to it after the movie is over might bring you a tear or two. 206 291 Overall, a movie with an important message about an ongoing problem with no easy solution. In the most general sense, it shows how adults can help suffering children by giving them a lifeline when they need it most and making sure they know it’s there. At the same time, it shows how these traumatized kids can help each other by giving each other the empathy they wish they had, and regain the confidence to succeed in the (often unfair) world we all live in together. 291
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One day, seven middle school students find themselves transported to a mysterious castle mirror on the other side of their bedroom. Somewhere in the castle there is a hidden room and a key to open it. The first of them to do so may have their wish granted. However, none of the kids were too excited about the prize. Instead, the castle becomes their safe space where they can escape the problems of everyday life and, through their newfound friendship, begin to heal their myriad interpersonal wounds.
