Out of all the tracks, “Great Escape” is clearly the strongest, and played in a way that easily took my breath away. RADWIMPS continues to make their mark: their orchestral soundtrack fits perfectly with the tempo of the film, ranging from simple piano melodies for quiet, introspective moments, to melancholic love songs that play in the background as Hina and Hodaka chase across bridges and weather. Play That’s not to say the film doesn’t have its bright moments. Much of Shinkai’s questions about love and distance are now focused on a singular perspective: can youth blossom in the fast-paced, ever-changing and brutal reality that is Tokyo? In its apathetic crowds, shady businesses, and unconventional ways of making a living? The answer, without spoiling, is an ethereal one, but no doubt: Shinkai has much to say about the current way of life in Tokyo, and does a fantastic job of weaving it with Hodaka and Hina’s story. This is important because Weathering With You is equally about Tokyo as it is about the romance that buds between protagonists Hodaka and Hina. Throughout the film, I felt like I was there with the characters, in the cold, wet and miserable rain.
Umbrellas get shaken out by crowds, and streams of droplets fall on the window panes as city-goers trud through mud and wet pavements with their rubber boots. Even when much of the city is overcast with cloudy skies, there are enough details to carry over the presence of a rainy day. Shinkai takes great care to paint the setting in every visceral stroke possible, whether it’s from the muted honks of cars zooming through the tight lanes between skyscrapers, the nonstop chatter of adults in cafes and shopping districts, or the absolutely overwhelming clutter of signs and lights in local shops and menus: Tokyo feels alive, real, and as much a part of the film as the actual characters. Play One of Weathering With You’s greatest strengths is the weight of Tokyo’s identity.
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