Synopsis
The Anthem of the Heart (2015) is a Japanese animated drama from A-1 Pictures — watch it online on iFILM. Director Tatsuyuki Nagai, known for Anohana, tells the story of Jun, a girl whose childhood words tore her family apart. A spirit disguised as an egg took her voice away as punishment: every attempt to speak ends in a jolt of pain, so Jun learned to stay silent.
Years later, Jun is assigned to a school community outreach committee planning a musical. Singing, she discovers, doesn't hurt. Alongside her is Naruse, a classmate carrying his own buried secret, and two others who each have reasons to hold back. Rehearsals become a slow, awkward process of finding language for things that words alone can't carry. Inori Minase voices Jun, Kouki Uchiyama voices Naruse.
At 119 minutes the film takes its time, letting silences do as much work as the songs. Stream The Anthem of the Heart (2015) online on iFILM.
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