This film literally has long title so people often say it in a simplified title which is Anohana. For the english title, it’s called as “Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day”. Anohana which was directed by Masaki Nishiura was adopted from  japanese animation or anime series with the same title. In the film adaptation, Anohana cast good actors and good actress such as Nijirou Murakami as Jintan, Minami Hamabe as Menma, Yuta Takahata as Poppo, Airi Matsui as Anaru, Jun shison as Yukiatsu, Marie Itoyo as Tsuruko.

           Basically this film tells the story of a group of childhood friends who call themselves the “Super Peace Busters” whose friendship is shattered by the tragic death of one of their members in an accident. She fell from a cliff while searching for her friends.

            The film start with a group of children playing hide and seek in the middle of flower garden then it chaged to the another plot immediatelly. The main character or Jintan meet Menma’s ghost in his house. Firstly, he feel that it is the effect of his deppresion due to Menma’s death. But then Jintan believe that it’s not his delusional mind, Menma’s ghost is beside him. When Jintan goes to the market, he meet his childhood friend which is the member of “Super Peace Buster” too, Poppo. Then he tells Poppo that he met Menma’s ghost. Jintan felt that Menma can’t reach the other universe because she has a wish or promise that aren’t fulfilled yet.

 

           Poppo plans to gather all of the member of “Super Peace Buster”, and it succeed. They gather in a cafe. Jintan as the leader of the group tells that Menma’s wish can only be granted by all of her former childhood friends being together. His friends didn’t beliave him at the first time, they didn’t believe ghost. As the time past, the other members feel that they should help Menma to fulfill her wish. Then, they visit the secret base that they create once in their childhood era except Yukiatsu. The member feel that there is another person outside the secret base.Apparently, it dressed like Menma’s dress. So they search for it. Once they found it, it’s not Menma but Yukiatsu. This scene is so dramatic. It shows how deppresed Yukiatsu is. He regret what he does before Menma’s accident. He wan to see Menma again. Menma’s ghost who is also in that scene, felling sorrow. Then she make an infinity loop sign which is the logo of “Super Peace Buster” with a hand firework. Because of that, all of the members believe that Menma’s ghost is real. But still, instead of friendship and happy memories, the former friends become bound to each other–yet separated–by guilt and sorrow. On the surface, most of them seem to have moved on from the tragedy, but in reality all of them are being eaten hollow by their feelings. All of them felt regret for what they do before Menma’s accident.

           Menma’s felt grateful that her friend re-united. Have been seeing Menma’s interest in firework, Jintan thought that her wish is a rocket firework. Jintan ask the other member to create the rocket firework. It’s a lot of work to do but all of them do it for Menma. While creating the rocket firework, Menma was there and having interact with the other member.

         The day of the rocket firework to release coming. Menma was ready to goes to another universe. Her parents also attend the show with the help from Anaru and Tsuruko. Everyone full of tears and saying goodbye. But Menma still in there. Jintan feel confuse why she didn’t go. Then all of the member decide to reconstruct the scene before Menma’s accident. Tsuruko ask Jintan wether he likes Menma or not. Seven years ago, Jintan said “No, Who would like that ugly girl?” then he ran to the jungle. Menma searched for him but Yukiatsu stop her and give her a hairclip, but Menma reject it. She continued to search Jintan, but unfortunately she slipped and fell from the cliff. In that reconstruct, Jintan said “Yes, I like you Menma” in a teary expression. The other members burst into a tears too.

         In the next scene, it showed that Menma already show a sign that she would gone. She remembered that she has a promise with Jintan’s mother to make Jintan cry, and now it’s fulfilled. Jintan found Menma lay in the floor. He lifted Menma and brings her to the secret base, but unfortunately she was gone. Jintan frustated so the other members are. The searched Menma in that jungle. Then they arrived to a big tree in the middle of jungle and found a letter under the tree. They open the letter and they suprised that it’s from Menma and the letter itself has a deep feeling to so everyone burts into a tear. They still can’t see Menma. But Jintan remembered about hide and seek game. So he and the other shout to the Menma that they will search for Menma. Then they can see Menma again for the last time. You should prepare your tissue for this scene, it’s not a sad ending but a happy ending with a sad feeling. For the plot itself, it’s so good tough. The portion of flashback scene is not to much. We can’t search for the other Japanese film with this storyline. This storyline is still antimainstream yet it can attract viewers too. The story has a kind of fresh storyline.

The film succeed to reach the point of the story in a smooth way but it still too fast comparing to the anime series. There are still many scene that are not showed on the film adaptation. But it still okay because the main plot was succeeded to be showed and giving teary eyes for the viewers. The conflict between the character is not as intense as in the anime series. The one that would caught interest most is the dramatical scene with Yukiatsu. He is such a good actor. His acting is so brave and strong, making his scene look so dramatic. For the other character, it doesn’t show an intense thought or conflict because as I said before there are many scene from anime series that are not included in the film adaptation. However, if Anaru or Tsuruko act the scene from the anime series too it will be more good. For Jintan and Menma, their acting are good too. But, when Menma act an innocent yet playful girl, she is rather stiff. However, her act in a dramatic scene is marvelous

 For the characterictic of each character, the film is succeeded to deliver it. Every character has their prominent and unique characteristic. Jintan is showed as a quite person yet he still has his feeling toward the other, even for Anaru. Yukiatsu is showed as a loud person yet he is suffered from the deppresion too. The Anaru and Tsuruko character is not showed as deep as in the anime series. In the film adptation, they just included in the main plot but actually they have many scenes that also touching.

            For the setting place, it’s just so-so. You can see the general Japanese scenery, the house, the supermarket, the road, and the other. The place that attract most is the opening scene where the children playing hide and seek in the middle of flower garden. For the soundtrack it’s so perfect. It match the film well. Secret base-Kimi ga Kureta Mono is the one of the best soundtrack of film adaption that I have ever heard.

Overall, this film is worth to watch. The storyline is so fresh. There are not so many film which has similiar storyline with Anohana. The plot end too fast but actually it’s okay if you don’t watch the anime series before. The character deliver the feeling of this film well for most of the scene. But still there are some scene that the characters look stiff. I would definetely reccomend this film if you like a drama and friendship genre. I would give this film 8.5/10 if i didn't watch the anime series before and 7/10 because I already watch the anime series. Don’t forget to prepare your tissue!