The Tunnel of Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes

 The Tunnel of Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (夏へのトンネル、さよならの出口) is a slice of life drama feature length film based on the light novel of the same name by Hachimoku Mei.  The movie had its original theatrical release in September of 2022.  

    Touno Kaoru heads home one rainy day to find a girl he doesn't know waiting at the train station.  He notices she is already soaked and trying desperately to protect a package in her arms.  He offers her his umbrella for the rest of her journey but she refuses him, acting cold towards his generosity.  He presses it upon her and she reluctantly agrees to take it, sharing contact information so she can return it.  The next day he discovers that the girl, Hanashiro Anzu, is a new transfer student in his class.  Anzu doesn't particularly make friends easily with anyone in the class though.  That night Kaoru is startled by his father spilling his food on the floor in a drunken rage.  His dad, already upset, begins to blames Kaoru for the death of his younger sister, Karen, and wishes that he could trade his life for hers.  Fearing for his safety and sanity Kaoru runs out of the house and into the night, wandering the train tracks.

    After escaping an oncoming train, he discovers a tunnel in the side of the hill, finding himself drawn to it.  The tunnel leads to a pathway lines with strange illuminated trees.  He thinks of a legend he has heard about a tunnel that will grant you anything you want in exchange for one hundred years of your life.  As he wades further into the grove he sees a child's sandal floating among the fallen leaves, with his sisters name written on the sole.  He also encounters a bird, eerily similar to one he had when he was younger that had died.  Afraid of what these objects may mean he quickly heads to the entrance, leaving the mysterious tress behind him.  He returns home to find out he has been gone for a week, causing his father and his classmates distress.  The tunnels price seems to be a dilation of time for those that enter it.  He returns to it the following day, after school, determined to use it to bring his sister back to life.

    He is interrupted before he can return though by Anzu, who had followed him in secret to the entrance.  He explains what he believes it to be and she convinces him that they will use it together, to achieve their wishes as a team.  Anzu convinces him that they should study the effects of the tunnel more before committing to their plan, slowly testing its boundaries and limitations, working to understand how it works in a rational sense.  Kaoru is determined to return his lost sister but what does Anzu want?  Are either of them ready to remove themselves from the outside world for years at a time to obtain their desires?

    After all of these years it is interesting to see how much Shinkai Makoto and Hosoda Mamoru have influenced other creators.  On the surface that influence is noticeable in the art style and character designs.  The movie was produced by a studio I am unfamiliar with but highly welcome called CLAP, who also did some work on Hosoda's last film Belle.  The artwork is excellent and pleasing to the eye, with a good sense of directing and exposition.  The story begins slow, unpacking the tragic backgrounds of its characters casually.  As it neared it's climax I was concerned that it wouldn't resolve in a fashion worthy of the slow build up.  I wasn't sure exactly what direction it would end and it made me anxious.  Not for the fate of the characters but for the fate of the movie as a whole.  The culmination of the build could collapse into a poorly executed conclusion that would wipe this movie from memory.  But...it held on and the conclusion was done in a way that tugged at the emotions and made the earlier parts of the movie have more weight to them.  I feared it would die in a whimper, but instead it coasted into an end that would make one recommend it to others.

    Over all the movie was beautiful but the characters were too self absorbed and moody, just like typical edgy teenagers.  Kaoru and Anzu don't live the most ideal lives but their willingness to throw everything away seems a bit too much...then again they are teenagers, prone to rashness and emotional instability.  The story was worth the time and now I will have to hunt down the original story to see what details were left out...or if there was a bit more beyond where the movie ends.  But over all it was enjoyable and well done, even if it shares some similarities with some of Shinkai's earlier works.

    As of the writing of this review the movie is in the process of being released in North America, but its unknown how long it will take.  I suspect there may be a short theatrical run, if so, this is a good movie to see on a date night!

Update: As of January 2024, the movie had seen a short theatrical run in North America late in the year and is currently streaming on HiDive.