On Mari Okada’s magnificent directorial debut and how it deftly weaves narrative, theme, and aesthetic together to create a gorgeous emotional tapestry. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms is, in many ways, a landmark film. For its director and scriptwriter, Mari Okada (Anohana, Toradora!, Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan), it marks her directorial debut—and the story she has … Continue reading Tragedy and Healing: Why Maquia Makes Us Cry

Mage in a Barrel