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A Letter to Momo(ももへの手紙)

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Japan · 2012
Rated PG · 2h 0m
Director Hiroyuki Okiura
Starring Karen Miyama, Toshiyuki Nishida, Yuka, Takeo Ogawa
Genre Comedy, Fantasy, Animation, Drama, Family

Clinging to a mysterious unfinished letter written by her recently deceased father, young Momo moves with her mother from bustling Tokyo to the remote Japanese island of Shio. As she settles into island life, Momo notices bizarre occurrences cropping up around her and traces them back to an unusual source: three troublesome imps.

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What are critics saying?

50

Washington Post by Ann Hornaday

A Letter to Momo is unquestionably lovely to look at, but viewers may not be able to shake the feeling that they’ve seen much of it before, and done better.

75

RogerEbert.com by Brian Tallerico

Overall, Okiura stays very focused on Momo’s emotional journey, which is smart. It’s not as fantastical as “Spirited Away” or many other films about children who encounter the supernatural upon being forced to deal with death, as Momo always stays front and center. The final moments of her journey out of despair are powerfully emotional.

90

The New York Times by Jeannette Catsoulis

Enveloped in a sweetness that buffers the depths of its emotions, Hiroyuki Okiura’s A Letter to Momo explores the stains of loss and regret on a personality too young to articulate them.

80

Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan

Physical beauty and fearless adventure, silly comedy and sensitive emotions, filmmaker Hiroyuki Okiura brings a facility for all of them to the table.

80

Variety by Peter Debruge

The story distinguishes itself from other anime offerings through its attention to both visual and emotional realism.

63

Boston Globe by Peter Keough

Though it touches on the usual themes of youthful innocence and imagination challenged by misfortune, and on occasion achieves moments of supremely subtle, sublimely exquisite detail, “Momo” strains when it comes to evoking whimsy and magic.

70

Village Voice by Sherilyn Connelly

The bickering goblins make a boffo comedy team, and while there's a recurring fart joke, it borders on classy. That's the power of good anime.

63

Slant Magazine by Wes Greene

It offers a realistic portrayal of Momo's emotional state, but this comes at the expense of a deeper exploration into both the story's lush supernatural landscape and its inhabitants.

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