Memories of yesterday

Interesting fact: during the late 17th century, the term "childhood" hadn't existed yet and kids weren't labeled as children but instead as incomplete adults; "incomplete" being the operative word. As a kid, I didn't think much about the events that took place during my childhood. While everyone else was worried about the trial of O.J. Simpson, operation Desert Storm or Clinton beating Bush for a second term, my biggest stress as a kid was learning multiplication or not getting picked last playing four square. For me, life was pretty much about school and friends and nothing more, which probably explains why many thought of kids as "incomplete" back then: we still had a lot to learn, feel and experience before we could cross into the thresholds of adulthood. Only Yesterday's premise is a truly unique one even from a studio like Studio Ghibli as the story centers around Taeko Okajima (Daisy Ridley), a 27 year old, unmarried work-a-holic who has lived her entire life in Tokyo. To escape the city life, Taeko takes a trip to visit her brother-in-law's family in the countryside and participate in the safflower harvest. During her trip, Taeko begins to recall memories from her childhood, from her first crush, going through puberty and her constant clashing with her older sisters. While reminiscing of her youth, Taeko also addresses her current problems as an adult which brings up conflicting questions about herself: did she give up her dreams from her childhood once she became older? Can she turn her life around and fulfill those dreams as an adult? In many ways, Only Yesterday examines the youth of girls much like how Boyhood did for boys, all the while bringing up relatable issues: dealing with disappointment from parents, contending with the changes in our bodies, yearning for attention, etc. You hardly ever see these topics discussed in the plain of animation, Japanese or American; but the film handles these themes immaculately well. To think, this film was released 25 years ago (1991!) and yet it still feels relevant today, which goes to show how ahead of its' time the film was. You hardly ever see films like Only Yesterday and the few that are out there wouldn't dare explore the themes and subjects that Studio Ghibli bravely did so with this film, making it a truly rare gem in the realm of animation and film altogether. Highly recommended.

​-Reviewed by Razor, 7/19/16