"“A charming yet sentimental tale, where the imagination and innocence of youth is explored…”"

It’s films such as I Wish that make the London Film Festival what it is. Usually, when it comes to the distribution of Oriental productions, British and American audiences are commonly treated to either that of kung-fu action movies, or animations, such as the Studio Ghibli productions. Therefore, it comes as a great pleasure to witness a different side to Japanese cinema, in a poignant, family film about two young brothers, living apart but desperate to be reunited.

Highly esteemed in Japanese cinema, this is Hirokazu Koreeda’s latest production, in a tale about dreams and the lengths that children will go to, to make them come true. We follow young brothers Goichi (Koki Maeda) and Ryo (Oshiro Maeda), whom have been separated against their will due to the parting of their parents. Keeping contact over the phone, Goichi lives with his mother and grandparents, whilst Ryo lives with his father, a musician.

The two youngsters arrange to meet at a faraway point, along with their friends (all of which had to take a day off school for such an expedition) to watch the Kyuushuu Bullet trains crossing, where it is alleged that when watching the passing, you are entitled to having one wish granted.

It’s a charming yet sentimental tale, where the imagination and innocence of youth is explored, as the children wish for a number of different things that had been brewing up over the course of the film. Of course, the two brothers agree to wish for their family to come back together. Whilst their friend, equipped with his dead dog in his bag, wishes for poor old Marbles to be brought back to life.

The film survives on its ingenuousness and sincerity, mostly a result of the wonderful performances by the two young leads. Despite sharing little time together on screen, they share an incredible chemistry, almost as if they are brothers in real life. That is until you find out they actually are real siblings – which might explain it.

At a film festival it often appears that in order to gain recognition, the film must be equipped with violence and gritty realism, but this proves that doesn’t always have to be the case. It’s a brilliantly sweet and touching movie, and although I personally have cried at various points over the course of the annual event, it is somewhat refreshing to cry happy tears for a change, even if it is embarrassing to admit it.