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Will’s Watchlist: Streaming Spotlight
Drifting Home (2022)
Directed by Hiroyasu Ishida
[Rated PG] 1hr 59min
★★★½
Drifting Home is an animated coming-of-age fantasy film about a group of children who suddenly become transported to the middle of the ocean along with an apartment building. As they try to figure out how to survive and make it back home, they struggle to let go of their past and must come to terms with their mistakes in order to work together.
This is a very character driven film that de-emphasizes its main plot in favor of exploring the characters, their emotions, and their pasts. As a result, the characters are highly compelling and empathetic as they navigate their distressing situation together. However, this also draws out the pacing as the plot barely moves forward once they get stuck at sea, yet when the story approaches its conclusion, it advances so quickly that it becomes nearly incomprehensible as new major elements come and go without explanation. But since the narrative focuses so much on the characters and their personal journeys, all the additional elements still work thematically, and everything contributes to the film’s motifs which further strengthens the themes and emotions that make the movie so engaging.
With its beautiful animation and touching story, I recommend Drifting Home to anyone who enjoys anime films with similar elements. While the plot and pacing do fall short, its themes of nostalgia and regret perfectly fit the aesthetics of the story, and the incredible characterization and atmosphere makes the whole experience worthwhile.
Drifting Home is currently available to stream on Netflix. Click here to watch the Official Trailer.
– Review by Will Hopper
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