While it's always heartwarming to see a loving couple live happily ever after, sometimes romance movies with sad endings can be even more powerful. Films where romance ends in tragedy provide an emotional catharsis for the audience and remind viewers of enduring love. In such movies, the journey becomes more important than the destination.
In genres where similar stories are told repeatedly, narratives can become repetitive and less impactful. Yet, occasionally, an exceptional film emerges that captures our hearts anew. Drawing Closer , a tragic romance drama from Japan, is one such film.
It surprised me with its resonant story, likable characters and the mature yet optimistic approach to its themes. Directed by Takahiro Miki, Drawing Closer follows Akihito (Ren Nagase), a high school student who learns he has about a year to live after a tumour is discovered growing on his heart. Struggling to cope with the news and seeking a reason to live, he meets Haruna (Natsuki Deguchi) while wandering around a hospital one afternoon.
Like Akihito, Haruna is also terminally ill but has only six months left to live. The two immediately connect due to their shared passion for art. Akihito decides to bring as much joy to Haruna's life as possible with the time they both have left, and in doing so, they might find new meaning in life.
Akihito is sympathetic from the start because of his life-changing predicament. He's just a kid facing a fate no one his age should endure. His world comes cr.
