Review of A Letter to Momo (2012) by Patryk C — 24 Jul 2012

I've had the distinct pleasure of watching A Letter to Momo during the Warsaw Film Festival. It's an audacious and pleasurable story about the life of a young girl, grief-stricken after her father's death.

In order to let go of her past she movies to a peaceful countryside with her mother and tries to meet new friends and go on living. A shy and introverted girl, Momo has major troubles in adapting to the new environment, but when she suddenly realizes that her house is haunted by some magical, extraordinarily funny and beautifully-drawn creatures, she feels the joy spreading all around her.

And in the tantalizing and intense finale, she goes through a marvelous transformation from a cute girl into a strong woman and embarks on a dangerous journey, in order to save her ill mother, and in the process, find the true meaning of life.

Hiroyuki Okiura directed the most imaginative and entertaining anime of the last few years, with a beautiful and detailed animation technique and a deep message within.