I saw the film early this decade at the back of Manila Film Center when the CCP Film department was still staging "Digital Sunsets," an open-air showing of independent, contemporary and classic films using an LCD projector right after sunset. It was coupled by an open-mic poetry reading, performances by up and coming musicians and other stuff.

I remember the lead character's life being in transition and how she dealt with it little by little. I could somehow relate to the story. I myself, at 25, is in transition. And the best way go with it is by establishing my independence using both sides of my brain and living at my own space. Well, at this point, a bedspace is just as good as the movie character's own flat.

Hehe... I love April Story's ending and the use of simple things like a bicycle and an umbrella to the story...


Yahoo!Movies: "A young woman, Nireno, travels from Hokkaido to Tokyo to begin college. Shy and naive, she lets herself be befriended by pushy Sano, who persuades her to join a fishing club. Conscious of the huge changes that come with new independence, Nireno nonetheless retains her innocent attitude. Even a pervert in a cinema cannot make her cynical, and when she meets again the boy she has a crush on, she decides to take a chance and share an umbrella with him."

Also Known As: Shigatsu Monogatari

Director/ Writer: Shunji Iwai

Producer: Hidemi Satani

Music: Shunji Iwai

Production Status: Released, 1998

Genres: Drama

Running Time: 1 hr. 7 min.

Distributors: Cowboy Pictures

Production Co.: Rockwell Eyes

Filming Locations: Hokkaido, Japan
Tokyo, Japan

Produced in: Japan