Speed

Yesterday, after playing badminton, I went home immediately and found myself in an isolated world. Out of nowhere, loneliness visited me on a cold autumn afternoon. Its presence was too strong to be ignored and made me end up watching the film 5 centimeter per second.

At what speed I must live, to be able to see you again? This question summarizes the entirety of the Japanese-animated film. It was just too real for me as I can relate to some parts of the movie.

The plot is set in Japan beginning from the 1990s and ending in modern day, with each segment centered on a boy named Takaki Tōno. It is important to note that the first episode takes place during a time period when cell phones are uncommon and e-mail has not yet reached the general populace. More here

While some may not like the ending, I absolutely enthralled by it, enthralled in the sense that not all stories will end on a happy note. The ending was an open-ended kind of sort, though some of my questions were answered after a second viewing.

As I said earlier, I can relate to Touno’s character. He had all the chances and opportunities to be with Akari but he prioritized his work among anything else. Yet, he still had this feeling towards her that won’t simply go away. Moving on was foreign to him.

The animation was very well done and it some parts it looks very real especially the scenes at the train station. The soundtrack, especially the main theme, One More Time One More Chance was very poignant beyond words. Some lyrics of the song goes like this,

I’m always searching for your figure to appear somewhere .
On the platform, in the windows along the lane.
At a street crossing. In the midst of dreams.
Even though I know you couldn’t be on that place.

Damn, that hits me. Its been years ago since I last saw her but why I still dream and hope that one day will meet again. Thousands of people are always at the train station but sometimes I can feel that I will see her there. At the coffee shop in Yokohama station. The same place I last saw her where the smell of our untouched coffees still lingers.

Yes, she has all the right to change her number, email add or block me. Despite of that, I still went to her place but the door was never opened to me. I just heard footsteps speeding towards to door and perhaps after checking out that it was me, it was if permanently locked.

But why do I still hope of meeting her someday? Sometimes, I think she had moved on already but every time I twll myself about it, tons of what ifs just popping up. Yeah, those what ifs indeed.

Time will have all the answers.

/totomai
11/24/09