Chihiro

American movies about free spirits were popular a half-century ago when they starred the likes of Goldie Hawn and Sissy Spacek as braless hippies. Based on a popular manga series, this episodic 2023 Japanese drama (called "Call Me Chihiro" in English) picks up the concept of a modern-day free spirit by centering on a former sex worker who decides to work at a seaside bento stand. She doesn't hide anything about her past and in fact, shares her unsolicited opinions to the people who become attached to her. Most of her focus is on a young alienated schoolgirl and an obstreperous little boy being raised by a selfish mother. Leisurely directed by Rikiya Imaizumi, the film starts on a comic note as Chihiro's previous occupation makes her popular with the guys who hang around the bento stand, but then the story turns more melancholic as we get to know the characters around Chihiro. Inspiring them to lead better lives, Kasumi Arimura is affecting as Chihiro, and despite an overlong running time, the movie manages to hit all the right emotional notes.

Don't get the wrong idea about this movie based on the synopsis! This is a fantastic feel-good movie! Super nice and relaxing. Watching it is like therapy. It's full of beautiful sounds and scenery, Chihiro being nice and helping all kinds of people deal with their troubles (and being helped in return), and it is comfy and sometimes funny, without unnecessary drama. I think it's really sad some people can't enjoy relaxing healing movies like this, and call them "boring" and "the worst movie they've ever seen", giving the movie a rating of 1...Clearly it's not meant to be an action movie...Someone also said it has no emotion, which I really can't understand, since this movie is FULL of emotion! Anyway, if you're looking for a nice feel-good movie, definitely watch this one! I absolutely loved it!

A very calm and introspective movie. Definitely not a movie for a more dramatic audience but rather realistic. For those who can enjoy and understand the complexity of human interactions, beliefs and many times social circumstances.

Exceptionally educative, transporting the viewer to the onion layer that represents Chihiro's life and the ones that end up interacting with her.

Although we never get to fully grasp about her real past and what took her to prostitution, it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters it's her way of being and how she faces life and takes other's on a love and compassion path.

Just that simpler has that, even if she had grown differently she wouldn't be more special than what she already was. To me it says it all and is something that I will most certainly take close to my heart.

If you like movies about real human connections, simple in a good way, with no over dramatic plots and twists, this is for you. Don't expect fast pacing and a lot of crazy action. Expect beautiful shots where you can appreciate the interactions and nature.

It follows the stories of characters with different backgrounds and ages that are interconnected through Chihiro, an ex-sex worker who now tends at a bento shop, has a beautiful smile, and can befriend people (and animals) easily. You see part of their lives, problems and how they're impacted by one another. Deals with themes of nihilism, solitude, broken relationships, death, love and kindness.

If you're a "movie sleeper" don't watch. I on the other hand, liked that it took it's time, felt the joy and sadness of the stories and ended up with a feel good lightness even though the ending was bittersweet for me.

Beautifully complex, open-hearted examination of the human condition- particularly of loneliness and the urge to connect with a world full of strangers who are much more likely to misunderstand you than not. The initial hook describing the main character Chihiro as a former sex worker turns out to be almost completely "irrelevant" to the story. It's not what you (may have) thought this film would be about. It's about learning to appreciate every fibre of every human being you meet - a feat most people aren't actually capable of.

This is film of quiet contemplation, quiet conversation and quiet thoughts - the fact that most of the film has no music soundtrack allows you to truly absorb and appreciate every character's words and underlying motivations, particularly of course, of Chihiro's, as she gracefully glides from person to person, reflecting their inner goodness in her own.

I rated this 9 until I reached the end. It deserves a 10.