Released in Japan in 2024, the movie “When April Comes” is based on the novel of the same name published in 2016. It goes beyond a simple romance to pose profound questions about the complex psychology of human relationships and the essence of love.
The author, Kawamura Genki, has stated that he wrote the novel out of intellectual curiosity, wanting to explore the phenomenon of people around him increasingly avoiding romantic relationships. This intention is woven throughout the film, prompting audiences to delve beyond mere emotional consumption and contemplate the true nature of love.
The film begins with narration from a letter sent by Haru Iyoda (played by Nana Mori) to her senior Shun Fujishiro (played by Takeru Sato) against the backdrop of the dazzling scenery of the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. The two had once promised to travel the world together and take pictures of sunrises. However, Haru is now keeping that promise alone and sending letters.
Their relationship began in college when they were both members of the photography club. The two grew close through their shared interest in photography and nurtured their budding love while watching the sunrise together, but for some reason, Haru left Shun's side.
Time passed, and Shun, now a psychiatrist, is about to marry his new lover, Sakamoto Yayoi (played by Nagasawa Masami). Yayoi, a zoo veterinarian, first met Shun as his patient, but their relationship developed into a romantic one through Shun's active pursuit, and they began living together. However, as their relationship progressed, Shun's attitude changed, and Yayoi felt a subtle distance and disappointment in him, as he no longer looked at her with the same eyes as before. One day, Yayoi suddenly disappeared from Shun's side without warning.
Yayoi's sudden disappearance shocks and confuses Shun. While struggling to find the reason for her disappearance, Shun receives a letter from his ex-girlfriend Haru, which brings back forgotten memories and becomes a crucial clue in unraveling the tangled web of relationships.
Did Yayoi read the letter sent by Haru by chance, confirm the shadow of the past that still existed in Shun's heart, and leave in disappointment? The film delicately follows the intersecting love and inner landscapes of Shun, Haru, and Yayoi, crossing between the past and the present.
In the process of following the characters' emotional arcs, April, When She Comes has a distinctly Japanese feel to it. Shun's hesitation in the face of love and his tendency to leave relationships in silence and misunderstanding rather than fully expressing his true feelings may represent the portrait of modern Japanese youth, but it also comes across as frustrating and unconvincing. Similarly, the choices of Haru and Yayoi, who leave without clear explanation, may feel somewhat unfriendly in terms of fully understanding their inner thoughts.
In Japan, the latter half of the film is interpreted as an expression of “passionate love,” but what stands out more is the characters' attempts to avoid and hide their feelings of love. The film calmly depicts the process of how the excitement and passion of love changes and sometimes disappears over time, posing the fundamental question, “What must we do to not lose love?” Ultimately, the film culminates in a coming-of-age drama where the protagonist rediscovers the lost emotions of love and himself through the process of searching for his departed lover. While the film boasts stunning visuals and the actors' subtle performances, the profound exploration of love underlying these elements will leave each audience member with different meanings and lingering impressions.
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