Suzume

For decades, Japan has had a tradition of animated films, here called anime. Consider, for instance, the work of Studio Ghibli's anime grandmaster Hayao Miyazaki. Beautiful and imaginative anime films are still being made today, witness Suzume by Makato Shinkai, who is a great admirer of Miyazaki's work.

17-year-old schoolgirl Suzume lives in the quiet town of Kyushi, where one day she meets a mysterious man: Sōta Munakata. He travels around looking for doors. She tells him about a nearby, run-down resort with a hot spring. They go there, and find a miraculously detached door. When she opens it, she sees a star-lit field through the inaccessible doorway. After having opened this one, one door after another opens, doors through which disaster comes out. It is her job to close them all. Nominated for a Golden Bear at the last Berlinale.