Excellent but underrated film

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

First time i watched on TV and i don't know what it's all about. As the film goes on i realised this film from Japan truly special and very moving me with the story. Amazing. I cried and happy at the same time when the ending arrived. The scifi element never ruins the film yet increase how we adore this film. How the two main character brought us to the memory of them got falling in love just sweet and honest. Thank God i watch it in my life. 9 out of 10.

I sought out this film on the strength of the reviews on IMDb and regard it as a gentle, enjoyable romantic drama. The performance of the 3 main actors in the family are lifelike and believable. Also the story is one which requires a second viewing. Definitely one film to save for a rainy day!The film is set in a small town and the plot involves a husband and son coping in life without the wife/mother who has died. Whilst walking one day the 2 remaining family members find a woman who looks exactly like the wife/mother but is behaving rather strangely. Is she who they think she is or is she someone else? Pros - Brilliant performances, cinematography and direction Cons - Apart from a minor flaw/feature in the plot, very believableOverall - Excellent romantic drama

Let me say right from the start - this may be the BEST motion picture I've ever seen in my life. It's a shame Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu wasn't recognized by the Academy in 2005, this should have been the front runner for Best Foreign Picture of that year, and it should have won the Oscar. A beautifully well crafted love story, this is the typical case of a film that has all the elements working for it, wonderful cast (the actor who played Taku, the widower, gives an outstanding performance. Along with Paddy Considine, an actor that took my heart away in Jim Sheridan's In America, the actor who portrays Taku is also a revelation in a breakthrough performance; also my respects for the child actor who plays the kid and the actress who plays the deceased mother who comes back in raining season), great story, sad and touching moments that will make you cry like a baby and one hell of a soundtrack.

I do not consider myself to be in the target market for this kind of movie (male, late 20's). However, I bought this movie off an online site due to some reader recommendations. After finishing the movie, I was obsessed!!! I couldn't stop thinking about it and couldn't stop raving about it. The acting and the direction is great, although a bit cheesy at times, but it works well. Yuko Takeuchi is such a beautiful actress. What I mean by beautiful is not her physical appearance (although she is pretty), but by the way she conveys her emotions and makes the viewer believe that she really is Mio. Everyone else does their role perfectly too, and the soundtrack really does a great job, especially the overture towards the end of the movie.Overall, anyone who has a pulse will enjoy this movie. Personally it affected me a lot and it has turned me into a Japanese movie fan. You will struggle to find a negative review about this movie anywhere, and I really encourage all the males to watch it especially so they can get in touch with their emotional side (haha...). I've seen it seven times within two months and it still affects me each time I watch it. Some of my friends thinks I'm crazy but they don't understand the relationship I have with these characters (hahaha...I can't believe I'm typing this..my friends will laugh at me). Undoubtedly in my books, the best movie ever, and a moment to cherish with loved ones, or even by yourself (so the guys can cry and not feel embarrassed that anyone is looking at them).