Ashita no watashi no tsukurikata

This was a simple, straightforward coming-of-age tale elevated by a great performance by the lead actress Riko Narumi.

It's pleasant and the characters are fairly well fleshed-out, but too often it goes for easy sentimentality rather than a more complex examination of the issues of finding your own identity. The music is a big drawback, lots of tinkly, faux-poignant melodies that belong in an RPG cutscene. There's some interesting use of split-screen and inserts, but nothing you haven't seen done before and done better. A pleasant film without any glaring flaws but it's mostly of value to pre-teen/teenage girls.