For one's heart to open up, you must warm it, nurture it, with kindness

It was a beautiful movie. It's very quiet throughout the film, but there were still some intense scenes that really made my heart beats fast. There weren't many dialogues between characters, neither were there many inner dialogues, but it keeps the audience guessing, the expressions and words in the scenes are quite meaningful. I've seen a few articles about the movie in which the actor for the movie had mentioned his observation of his gay friends, such as their eye contact and gestures, which I've seen portrayed quite well in the movie. Although it was quite sad that I read those gestures and expressions as unease, nervousness, and insecurity. I do not know the characters well since I haven't seen the prequel of this movie, but I enjoyed their growth and the development of their relationship. To see Shun come out so bravely and admit that he was gay and for him to realize that the world wasn't void of kindness, was very heartwarming.

Although some characters were written as if their purpose of being there was to be hated, they present some kind of stereotypes and the causes of a close-minded society. Much of the focus of the movie was on how society favors a 'normal', 'father and mother' family unit, how people are made to be afraid and shamed for their sexuality. It was very hard and painful for me to watch. The lawyer's discriminating statements, the pained, uncomfortable expressions of the characters, the side-eyes, disapproving glares of people who are unable to be kind and understanding toward other people. These are all portrayed, unfortunately, realistically. It is stereotypically decided that same-sex couples are 'not normal', and it is both difficult for same-sex parents and the child they are raising. They are not the causes of problems in society, but the people who hold prejudice toward them.

Although it was a disappointing end, I still believe this is how life goes. I did wish for the characters' feelings to be said aloud more, and I had hope that they can get their feelings across, I always felt as if the characters were bottling up their feelings, perhaps this was part of Japanese's culture, which I'm not familiar with, so I apologize if there are any misunderstandings or unintentional offends. I hoped that they could've talked things out, but perhaps it was very difficult too, and for Shun who has had a hard time accepting himself. But it was a relief that something came out of his struggles and he was able to say his feelings out loud.

I'm glad there is a great variety of values held by different characters, although there are people who aren't accepting and there are mean, unthoughtful people, I'm glad there are kind characters who are there to support Shun and Nagisa.

The background soundtrack for the movie was beautiful and relaxing as well.

After seeing this movie, I feel sorry for people who are struggling with discrimination even when they are not causing harm to society. I believe people need to be educated more about same-sex parents and how they can be just as healthy as a so-called 'traditional' or 'normal' family. Sometimes, it is not stereotypes that will help us make the correct decision, such as the statement that 'women are better suited to raise children', but we see that is not the case here in this movie.

I hope that people will come to be more open-minded toward the term, 'family'. It is an abstract concept and not a rule or stereotype that a family has to be made of 'father, mother and child', a family is wherever you feel safe, warm, loved, and at home. I wish the world would come to embrace the diversities of love and attraction and that it surpasses physical boundaries such as (being attracted to the opposite) sex.

I felt very emotional at certain scenes. I don't feel strong emotions when it comes to fictional stories. But this movie really touched me. And only good stories do that to your heart.

I'm looking forward to the impact of how these kinds of movies and various other media can make a beautiful change to the world for the better, and make it a safer and more welcoming environment, for all of us.

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