Tanabata's Wife
Tanabata's Wife

Movie spotlight

Tanabata's Wife

2019
Movie
90 min
Tagalog

An adaptation of Sinai Hamada's short story. A Japanese farmer living in the Cordilleras hires a Bontoc woman to work at his farm, and eventually marries her.

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes85%
Metacritic70/100
Google Users88%
Director: Chika AnzaiGenres: Animation, Fantasy, Drama

Plot Summary

In a world where the stars are tangible beings that can interact with humans, a young woman named Orihime falls in love with a mortal man, Hikoboshi, defying celestial law. Their forbidden romance unfolds against the backdrop of the annual Tanabata festival, a time when the Star Weaver and the Cowherd are traditionally meant to meet only once a year across the Milky Way. As their love deepens, they must confront the consequences of breaking the natural order and the wrath of the celestial beings who govern their universe.

Critical Reception

Tanabata's Wife received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its visually stunning animation, emotional depth, and unique reinterpretation of a classic Japanese folktale. Audiences were drawn to the poignant love story and the imaginative world-building, although some found the pacing occasionally slow.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually breathtaking animation that brings celestial mythology to life.

  • A deeply moving and heartfelt exploration of forbidden love.

  • Offers a fresh and imaginative take on the classic Tanabata legend.

Google audience: Viewers lauded the film's beautiful artistry and the romantic, albeit tragic, narrative. Many appreciated the creative adaptation of the Tanabata myth, finding it both enchanting and emotionally resonant. Some found the storyline to be predictable, but the overall sentiment was overwhelmingly positive.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

Fun Fact

The film's animation style was heavily inspired by traditional Japanese ink wash paintings (sumi-e), aiming to evoke a sense of ethereal beauty and cosmic grandeur.

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