April Story


April Story is a Japanese film directed by Shunji Iwai starring Takako Matsu.

Plot

Uzuki Nireno, a shy girl from Asahikawa, a city in northern Hokkaidō, leaves her family for Musashino University in Tokyo. However, she finds herself lonely in the unfamiliar place. Soon, she befriends Saeko Sono, who prompts her to join the university's fishing club. The film shows a series of vignettes of her day to day life: She watches a fictionalized film about a failed assassination on Oda Nobunaga. In the theatre, a man tries sitting beside her, and she flees the theatre, leaving her books behind. She shares curry with her apartment neighbour. She bikes the city streets.
Reflecting on her intentions to attend Musashino University, she recalls the local boy from her high school she fell in love with, Yamazaki, and whom she followed to Tokyo. She finds the bookstore in which he works, Musashino-do, buying several books in hopes of interacting with him. One day, he finally recognizes her. Outside, the rain pours, and Yamazaki pulls out various umbrellas left behind by customers for her to use. She promises to him she'll return as she leaves.

Cast