I just watched the animated film The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki. It was directed by Mamoru Hosoda, the same director of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, a movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. Like his previous work, Wolf Children was another visual masterpiece that evoked deep and complex emotions within me and left me in a state of peaceful melancholy.
There were many important themes raised by the film, but the one that stood out to me the most was one about finding the inner courage and strength to smile in the face of pain and tragedy that are an inevitable part of life. This was most exemplified by the central character of the story, a single mother of two children, Hana.
Hana lost her husband shortly following the birth of her son, one year after the birth of her daughter, their first child together. Not only did she have to deal with the grief of losing her beloved spouse, but she also had to take care of her two very young children all by herself. To make matters worse, they're not like other children, in that they are half wolf and half human.
Yet despite the seemingly insurmountable odds in the face of which a normal person would surely despair and give up, Hana managed to smile through the pain and raise her two children on her own. The strength and courage this timid and petite woman showed, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, was perhaps the most resounding message of this film, to me at least.
It made me realise that, despite all the pain, hardship, and tragedy that we will inevitably encounter in life, what's most important is that we stay strong, and keep moving forward and do what we have to do. If we can keep a smile on our face despite all that life throws at us to bring us down, we might be astonished to find that joy awaits us on the other side.
Hana didn't let the death of her husband and the fact that her children are different stop her from living her life and fulfilling her duties as a wonderful mother. She managed to prevail through every challenge life threw at her, and ended up raising her children into two amazing adults. In the end, she had lived a fulfilling life filled with joy, happiness, and bright smiles. I think that's the message that I took from this movie.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone reading this. If you ever find yourself in a rut, or feel like you're being overwhelmed by life's problems, think about Hana. Think about her bravery. Think about her resolve. Think about her strength. And most importantly, think about her smile. Perhaps then, you'll find it in yourself to overcome all your challenges, and emerge on the other side with a smile on your own lips.
