Giovanni’s Island (2014) Review

For many, the quintessential war anime film is Studio Ghibli’s classic Grave of the Fireflies, a movie still celebrated today as a must-watch not only for anime fans but for all cinema lovers. War films evoke emotions unlike any other genre, especially when they reveal the horrors of war. The raw emotions that a great war film can surface are unparalleled. Giovanni’s Island, however, begins on a different note. It opens with a story of two cultures forced together through tragic circumstances, gradually forming unlikely bonds. But after an hour, the film shifts into something more conventional before ultimately wrapping up in a beautiful conclusion.

Giovanni’s Island follows two brothers, Junpei and Kanta, as they live on Shikotan Island with their father and grandfather. The war is over, and the townspeople fear an impending American occupation. However, it’s not the Americans who come but the Soviets. The Soviets claim the land, taking over people’s homes and schools. Despite these troubling times, Junpei forms an unexpected friendship with a young Soviet girl named Tanya.

The film makes numerous references to Kenji Miyazawa’s famous book Night on the Galactic Railroad. The title itself nods to the book’s main character, Giovanni. However, the film’s primary use of the book is through the imagery of the train. In the novel, the train journey symbolizes a age to heaven. Throughout the film, the children imagine boarding and riding the train to its final stop, creating scenes that are truly magical. The animation in these sequences is stunning, blending seamlessly into the more realistic narrative elements in a breathtaking way.

The first hour is exceptional, focusing on an aspect of war films we rarely see: how do the locals and occupiers co-exist? The unlikely bond that forms between Junpei and Tanya is genuinely sweet and, in a way, hopeful.

After the first hour, the story transitions into a more conventional war film, tackling familiar themes. The characters are displaced and sent to an internment camp, facing the harsh realities of life there. Sadly, the film becomes somewhat predictable after the hour mark, resembling other war films like Grave of the Fireflies. This is unfortunate, as that first hour felt like a breath of fresh air.

However, in the last 15 minutes, the film returns to what made that first hour so magical, and I found myself getting misty-eyed. It’s hard not to fall in love with these characters, and watching them face adversity is presented beautifully. The film takes on a fantastical tone that is genuinely wonderful.

Animated by Production I.G, Giovanni’s Island is visually stunning. The backgrounds are meticulously detailed, and as our characters walk, run, and climb through these settings, the world feels hypnotic, drawing you in completely.

Giovanni’s Island had the potential to be a classic, but the clichéd half-hour lowers it slightly to a great film. Visually stunning and emotionally resonant, I’d recommend Giovanni’s Island to anyone.