From Up on Poppy Hill

Written by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) and directed by relative newcomer Goro Miyazaki, this is a surprisingly straightforward piece of Japanese animation that doesn’t involve any fantasy elements. The story is about kids in Yokohama circa 1963 simply trying to find their way and fight for a few causes. The central character is Umi (voiced by Sarah Bolger in the dubbed version for the U.S.), a young girl who lost her dad in the war and finds herself liking a boy who may or may not be the right choice for various reasons. The movie looks great (as product from the acclaimed Studio Ghibli often does) and it tells a sweet story. The Loft will be screening it in both subtitled and dubbed versions. Other dubbed vocal cast members include Anton Yelchin, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ron Howard.