by Eden
Director Mamoru Oshii wrote an original story without much consultation or input from Rumiko Takahashi, the manga’s original creator. Based partially on the Japanese folk tale, Urashima Tarō, it definitely feels pretty representative of Oshii’s work, tackling philosophical issues in a surreal way.
This version of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time by director Mamoru Hosoda and writer Satoko Okudera is part reimagining, part sequel to the 1967 novel, written Yasutaka Tsutsui. It is one in a long line of adaptations of this novel — there have been live-action movies, multiple TV versions and even a stage play. I once had ambitions to track down and watch every version but that proved impossible. But I like the idea that all the versions of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time are almost a time loop themselves.
CJ is an adorable teenage science nerd who, with her friend Sebastian, has figured out how to go back in time — but only for 10 minutes at a time. After her brother, Calvin, is shot dead by police, she makes it her mission to save him.
The Obituary of Tunde Johnson announces what it’s about immediately, even from the title. Tunde, a gay, Black teenager, is killed by police. We quickly meet Tunde, realize what he’s about, and then we see two laughing police officers shoot him during a traffic stop. (I admire how quickly this movie gets to starting the loop — there’s not a lot of set-up here.)
It’s a joke now that we’ve all been repeating the same day over and over for more than a year now. I had been thinking about this and also my unapologetic love of time loop movies. It’s maybe not exactly true, but I do say I will watch any movie with a time loop. It seemed as good of a time as any to combine the two.
Welcome to In the Loop, a project where I will write about time loop movies (and on occasion, TV shows) once a week.