“A Gentle Breeze in the Village” is based off Fusako Kuramchi’s best selling novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Aya Watanabe from “Josee the Tiger and the Fish.” If you are a fan of that movie (I know I am) then you’re likely to notice something else similar about that movie and “A Gentle Breeze in the Village.” Beyond Aya Watanabe having written the screenplay, both movies also feature musical scores composed by the Japanese rock band Quruli - they do make some of their finest songs since their Josee and the Tiger and the Fish soundtrack.

In “A Gentle Breeze in the Village,” Soyo Migata is a quirky 8th grader who resides in a small village somewhere in the rural area of Japan. The village is small enough where there’s only 6 students at their school (from 1st grade through 8th grade). Soyo’s been friends with her classmates since childhood and they hang out together like an extended family. One day a new student arrives named Hiromi Osawa. He’s a good looking boy from Tokyo and all the other students view him as somewhat of a celebrity. Hiromi in his own way fits in with the group and takes an interest in Soyo (who is the only other 8th grader at their small school).

All the students then make a trip out to a nearby a beach. As precursor to what will come, Hiromi opts take a different path from the group when the road splits in two. The others belatedly follow Hiromi and this is when Soyo and Hiromi’s relationship first starts to bloom. Soyo trips on a train track while a train approaches in the distant. Hiromi non-nonchalantly walks over and carries the frightened Soyo out of harm’s way. They now share a bond that neither recognizes…yet.

The movie then deals with a series of small episodes which eventually culminates in Hiromi’s decision to attend high school in Tokyo or somewhere near the village where Soyo lives. On the way to the film’s conclusion, the movie is filled with delightful moments of charm. From scenic shots of the village rice field, to experiencing the small town feel of neighbors knowing each neighbor since they were born, to Hiromi and Soyo taking a chaperoned trip to Tokyo there’s so many things in “A Gentle Breeze in the Village” to take in. This was also the first time I have seen the teenage actress Karu perform in a film. With her quirky personality and pigtails my first reaction was to think of her character as a bit of a knock off from the Juri Ueno character in “Swing Girls.” By the end of the film I had long forgotten any such silly notions and came away a huge fan of her performance.

You can certainly make a case for what “A Gentle Breeze in the Village” doesn’t have. A dynamic plot, sex, violence, and melodrama are all elements you’ll find lacking in the movie. What “A Gentle Breeze in the Village” does have is the splendor of youth, the tranquility of nature, and the vivacity of life all molded together in an idealized world where each and every moment is the most memorable. A place I would like to revisit again. A gentle breeze in the village indeed.