Birthday Card (2016)

Heartwarming.

I re-watched this after years yesterday (with English subtitles) thus I gave it a higher rewatch value.

Personally, I don't think this film is the type where people could give much expectations. The first thing that might come to mind would be : boring and plain.

Yes, I had the same exact thought, too ー despite casting my favorite actress.

Birthday Card starts off in an interview where Noriko (Hashimoto Ai) narrates her life from her childhood, and the story goes from there. We see Noriko growing up until her 20s, with her encounters, her struggles, and her relationship as she gets to know both herself and her mom through the letters she receives every year on her birthday.

The film doesn't have a glamorous cinematography, in my opinion, but instead it gives a little bit of a plain imagery and colors that really lives up to its genre of "Slice-of-life", like any Japanese Human drama.

Honestly, there isn't much to say except to give it a try! (Currently available on HBO GO app)

Watching the film gives a sense of comfortー like a warm hot chocolate or soup in a cold weather, or a sense of nostalgiaーsimilar to when you open up an old album or a box from your childhood. At the same time, it gives you a sense of growing up with our main character, Noriko, that you would want to pat yourself at the back and say, "You've done well"
by the end of the film. Truly heartwarming, so I recommend it on days you're unsure what to watch !

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Sometime we just need a little push.

I am a complete mark for Ai and Aoi as actors. I was estactic to find a movie with both in main roles.

The acting in this movie was fantastic. Hashimoto plays a really great range here. We see a narrow character become much greater then who she was all due to the actions of her deceased mother. She has great body language that evolves as the movie progresses. Aoi acts as a moral compass for her daughters journey. Her moments were all very sentimental. I thought the side characters were also really comforting. I particularly liked Ishii's storyline as it enhanced the main characters journey.

The journey in this movie focuses on self exploration and keeping someone's memory alive. Through the MC's choices we understand how deeply her loss affected her early on. I think it asks a really interesting question of when do you choose to live your own life for yourself and step out of your parents shadow? Many forms of parenting are shown through this movie and I liked seeing the different perspectives. Japan coming off age movies focus a lot on this subject matter. How will you serve society and have your parents done a good enough job raising you. I feel like in their society there's a disconnect among what is spoken and what is actually happening. Which is why these movies are always so fascinating.


The cinematography was fantastic and varied. Because of all the different locations the movie felt very alive. There were fantastic tracking and wise shots throughout the film.

The music was cute. The theme song in particular is real tear jerker when you hear it.

Speaking of which, the ending few scenes will break you. If it doesn't, you gotta be the most unhappy person on earth lol. It was actually sort of surprising honestly. I didn't expect what happened to happen. They lure you into a sense of closure early on, only to REALLY give you closure and it's so beautifully done.

If you are sentimental or experiencing some downs in life, this movie is a really beautiful way to cope lol.

Ps There is a post credit scene.

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