Be
With You (Original title: Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu) | 2004 | 1h 59m
Genre:
Drama / Fantasy / Romance | Country: Japan
Director:
Nobuhiro Doi | Writers: Takuji Ichikawa, Yoshikazu Okada
Cast:
Yûko Takeuchi, Shidô Nakamura, Akashi Takei
IMDb:
7.8
My
Rate: 9/10
Takumi and his son, Yuji, are stunned by the return of Mio, Takumi’s wife who passed away a year earlier, when the rainy season arrives—just as she once promised. However, Mio has no memories of their life together or the happiness they once shared.
Warning:
Sensual scenes and nuditySynopsis:
Yuji
receives a final birthday cake from the shop his mother used to frequent. That
day, memories of Mio resurface—memories so beautiful they feel almost unreal.
Mio died from an illness, leaving Yuji and Takumi trapped in unresolved grief.
Their extended family blames Yuji for his mother’s death, as if his existence
were the cause of Mio’s suffering. This pressure buries Yuji in guilt, while
Takumi is caught between regret and his inability to protect his family.
Before
she passed away, Mio promised she would return one year later, during the rainy
season. Yuji holds tightly to that promise with full belief, while Takumi,
though not entirely convinced, quietly keeps hoping. Until one day, Mio truly
appears again.
Happiness
mixes with confusion. The Mio who returns has no memory of the family she left
behind, as if she has become a different person. Yuji and Takumi try to bring
old memories back to life, cherishing their fragile time together while
realizing that time is once again moving toward another farewell.
Is
the Mio who returns truly the woman they long for, or just a shadow of memories
they are desperate to hold on to?
Review:
The
death of someone we love often leaves behind a wound that is not only deep, but
also silent—especially when people around us unknowingly make us feel like part
of the reason for that loss. Still, the hope of meeting once more, even if only
briefly, can become a small light that gives us a reason to keep going. Be
With You, adapted from Takuji Ichikawa’s novel Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu,
captures that feeling in a story that is gentle, imaginative, and quietly
heartbreaking all at once.
The
film opens with a dreamy, melancholic atmosphere. Brief flashes of sweet
memories between Yuji and his mother in the past lay a strong emotional
foundation before the story moves forward. Smooth transitions guide the
audience into those memories while introducing the key characters: Mio, Takumi,
and Yuji. From the very beginning, the film places memory at the center of its
narrative.
The
story is carefully built through small symbols woven in little by little—rain,
a storybook, and simple lines of dialogue. These elements act as subtle clues
to where the story is heading, offering guidance without ruining the mystery it
holds. The audience is invited to understand, not spoon-fed with explanations.
Rather
than highlighting big, dramatic conflicts, Be With You chooses to
explore something more fragile: the inner dilemmas of its characters. Yuji’s
fear of losing, Takumi’s regret over the past, and Mio’s reluctance to leave
again blend into a series of emotions that are both painful and beautiful.
These feelings exist as contradictions—hurting, yet precious.
The
resolution is delivered calmly but hits hard. Answers to lingering questions
emerge slowly, accompanied by shifting character perspectives. The final scene
is almost impossible to watch without tears—not because it manipulates emotion,
but because of how honest it feels.
As a
story that touches on time travel, there is certainly potential for logical
inconsistencies. However, here it never feels distracting. The emotions and
meaning remain intact and consistent, making logic something that can easily be
set aside.
The
performances feel natural, with warm chemistry among the cast. The connection
between the younger and adult versions of the characters feels believable.
Visual support—from lighting and detailed imagery to the music—helps create a
soft, magical atmosphere that feels calming and intimate.
With
its slow pace, Be With You gives the audience space to truly sit with
every emotion. This slowness is not a weakness, but a strength that allows the
story to seep in gradually.
In the end, Be With You is a story about goodbye and second chances.
About regrets that never fully fade, and love that does not force itself to
stay. The film reminds us that accepting and letting go does not mean
forgetting—it is simply the most human way to keep living, even when the wounds
remain.
Memorable Scene:
Knowing her time is running out, Mio meets Nagase, Takumi’s coworker who has feelings for him. What appears to be an ordinary conversation is actually filled with meaning. Mio asks Nagase to take care of Takumi and Yuji after she is gone. Yet her gaze and deepest wishes betray her—there is an unspoken reluctance to see another woman care for the people she loves.
This scene shows a form of love that is both mature and fragile. Mio does not
want Takumi to be trapped in endless grief; she chooses to pray for new
happiness for the one she loves, even if it means allowing herself to be
replaced. This is where its beauty and pain meet: love is not always about
holding on, but about having the courage to let go—even when the heart is not
fully ready.
Memorable Dialogue:
“If only it were possible for me to stay by your side forever.”
Ending:
Bittersweet EndingRecommendation:
Must Watch(Aluna)
 – One Season to Say Goodbye){kind=link}
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