I have never seen a story capture a mother-son relationship so perfectly as Maquia did. Some minor spoilers, but near the very end, there’s a montage sequence capturing all that I just talked about, and watching it was one of the most powerful cinematic experiences in my entire life. Ariel’s innocent, childish actions as a young boy to his independent, often harsh words to Maquia as a teenager all hit me hard, as I saw myself reflected in their interactions to a degree. Subtle changes in Maquia’s facial expressions and vibrant movements from Ariel all work to create and develop an endearing family dynamic as the story progresses. Their dialogues throughout the story are filled with affection, understanding, and other delicate emotions, and they perfectly present the growths in both Maquia and Ariel as mother and son. However, the film truly shines when these two characters interact with each other. From his charming playfulness as a kid to his conflicting questions on identity as an adolescent, Ariel develops as a well-realized, relatable human being, and by the end of the film, Maquia and Ariel felt like real people without a doubt. However, Ariel’s growth is just as detailed as Maquia’s, to a point where I could see my own life reflected in Ariel’s story. Starting as an infant and aging quickly throughout the runtime of this film, Ariel could easily have been a weak, underdeveloped character. I could understand Maquia’s every step and thought, and by the end, it’s hard not to cry with her pain and smile with her happiness.Įqually well developed is the character of Ariel, who grows up under Maquia’s eternally youthful gaze. In addition, Maquia is forced to question her own motherly and cultural identity throughout her journey, and these complex plot elements were handled masterfully. Her growth as a mother is absolutely stellar, with her story reflecting her struggles and her genuine love for Ariel with touching poignancy. The main character, Maquia, is abruptly thrown into the life of a mother, forced to leave behind her shy, teenage life. The two lead characters have some of the best character setup and development I have ever seen.
Maquia when the promised flower blooms last scene movie#
You’ll need it.īut let’s start with my in-depth analysis of what made watching this movie such an emotional and impactful experience: all of which revolve around the perfect character dynamics. This movie is one of the best movies I have ever seen, and most anyone should be able to understand the sheer beauty of the film’s themes. I’ll say this real quick: while this review won’t have any real spoilers, I recommend anyone reading to stop and go watch the film without knowing anything. I had high expectations for this movie going in, but never would I have expected it to surpass my expectations with such ease. Maquia is one of those rare anime that not only impresses me from its presentation and storytelling, but also reminds me of why I write about anime, and just how powerful the medium can be. Some can even teach me things about life and people that I never realized.Īnd today, I’m immensely satisfied to say that Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou (that’s a mouthful), or Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, is all of the above and so much more. Some remind me of certain moments of my own life. There are others that present me with characters I deeply relate to. There are anime that stun me with how incredible everything looks. From my experiences, I’ve learned that anime as a medium can do so much to impress me. I’ve been writing about anime for a while now, and I’ve watched anime for even longer. As she watches Ariel age and grow older while she remains a young maiden in appearance, Maquia must face the harsh reality regarding her own identity and her relationship with Ariel. Taking Ariel as her companion and “son”, Maquia journeys across the land, in search of safety and happiness for her and Ariel. Maquia, a young Iorph, soon finds Ariel, a newborn baby, by himself in the woods.
One day, the Iorph clan is invaded by a neighboring kingdom, leaving the clan decimated except for Leiria, who is taken away by the soldiers, and Maquia, who escapes from the massacre. These immortal humans stop aging in their mid teens, and spend their time weaving beautiful patterns that represent their memories and lives.
In a remote corner of this fantasy world, the Iorph people lead a peaceful life. All pictures are from the promotional content. *Disclaimer: This review is spoiler-free.