Be with You
"Mommy will be back in the rainy season." Mio Aio wrote these words in a picture book just before passing away. Though six-year old Yuji accepts his mother's death, he still believes the promise his mother made. Then the rainy season comes, and Yuji and his father, Takumi, meet a woman in the downpour that bears an uncanny resemblance to Mio, but has no recollection of who she is. Taking her in, they reacquaint her with her former self and family life returns to normal as memories come flooding back. But their new life together is interrupted by the discovery of Mio's old diary, which reveals the secrets of her past and how they must say goodbye in six weeks time. ~~ Adapted from the novel "Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu" (いま、会いにゆきます) by Takuji Ichikawa (市川 拓司).
Insights
Plot Summary
A young boy is visited by his mother's spirit during the rainy season, exactly one year after her death. She has returned from heaven, keeping her promise to return when the season is right. The mother, who has lost her memory, spends time with her son and husband, reliving moments of their past and creating new memories. However, she must eventually return to heaven, leaving her family with the bittersweet memories of their time together.
Critical Reception
The film was a critical and commercial success in Japan, praised for its emotional depth, visual storytelling, and heartwarming narrative. It resonated with audiences for its poignant exploration of love, loss, and memory, becoming a significant romantic drama.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its touching and melancholic portrayal of love and loss.
- Commended for its beautiful cinematography and emotional resonance.
- Found to be a heartwarming story about family bonds and cherished memories.
Google audience: While specific Google user ratings for the 2005 Japanese film are not readily available, similar films of this genre often receive high praise for their emotional impact and moving storylines, suggesting a positive audience reception.
Fun Fact
The film is based on the best-selling 1998 novel of the same name by Takuji Ichikawa, which was also adapted into a South Korean film in 2016 and a Thai film in 2019.
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