Whisper of the Heart (Mimi wo sumaseba) (If You Listen Closely)

Whisper of the Heart (Mimi wo sumaseba) (If You Listen Closely) (1995)

  • 89% of critics liked it
    (9 reviews)

  • 88% of users liked it
    (24,503 ratings)

Written by animation master Hayao Miyazaki and directed by his protégé Yoshifumi Kondo, this film is a simple tale about a young girl who falls in love and learns to believe in herself. Suzuku Tsukishima is nearing the end of her final year of junior high. An avid bookworm, she devours books while… More

G, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By
Yoshifumi Kondo
Genres
Drama, Animation, Art House & International
In Theaters
Jan 19, 2006 Wide
On DVD
Mar 7, 2006
Optimum Releasing

Critic Reviews

  • Brian Costello, Common Sense Media

    Sweet, romantic coming-of-age anime with strong role models.

  • Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

    Perhaps the most unadulterated coming-of-age story in Ghibli's canon... a film of truly excellent observation.

  • Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

    Will translate more towards girls than boys in the long run...

  • Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

    Enchanting.

  • Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

    Shame how John Denver appears at regular intervals to remind us of how peculiar a beast cultural diffusion can be.

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Dead A


    This was a cute movie :)

  • Dean M


    Wonderfully Studio Ghibi of the animated drama story about a schoolgirl. With its wonderful marriage of dreamlike flights of fancy and touching rise of passage, <i>Whisper of the Heart</i> could bring a tear to a glass eye. Inspirational.

  • Stella D


    it's a super sweet story and i'm a sucker for studio ghibli. your enjoyment may depend on your tolerance for john denver's country roads.

  • Lanning :


    (<i>Mimi wo sumaseba</i>) Perhaps the most "normal" screenplay from Miyazaki, this story hits one of my favorite topics: movies about art and the pursuit of artistic expression. <p> The finding of true love in the early to mid-teen years is quite a… More

  • Matthew Y


    A simple tale of a young girl dealing with blossoming womanhood and even romance. The film is so grounded that Ghibli animators aren't even given the opportunity to attempt a spectacular animation moment (at least Only Yesterday had the ending title sequence). Due to this fact… More

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

facebook_logo

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

  • Discover movies your friends are watching
  • Keep track of what you want to see
  • Add your reviews to your Timeline