This is a story about a girl, Chitose (or "Chiko" by her friend/family) Kobayashi, and her story as a Japanese girl who lived in Japanese occupied Korea during World War II. Northern Korea. As the War continues, Chiko finds that many things had to change. Their lifestyle had to change to more humble. They started to lose supplies of clothings and food, and her own Dad was drafted to be sent to serve in the War. While he was gone, Chiko's sister, Miko, became ill and they couldn't find help to treat her and she did not survive. One time, Chiko accidentally put on a pair of pants that has a needle in it because her nanny was just done mending it. Her nanny was fired by her mother and her mother refused to even acknowledge her since then. One good thing happened was that Chiko's Dad was sent back due to an injury. The family was reunited joyfully, but soon they had to face the next tragedy. Japan lost the War. The Koreans started to seize Japanese people who lived in Japan and they were forced to give up their houses. The family decided to stick together no matter what happend, and the Japanese decided to escape down to south of 38th parallel, to where US troops are. The group endured a very difficult journey onfoot but they managed to make it to the South. The movie ends with Chiko as a theatre actress and she receieved a bouquet or flowers sent by her nanny.
This is a pretty touching story that tells what these people had to go through. It reminds me of another movie, Grave of the Fireflies; even the cover, the feel of the movie, and the characters were very smiliar to it. The director for Rail of the Star is Toshio Hirata, and Grave of the Fireflies is by the oh-so-famous Miyazaki.
Print-friendly
Currently has 0 Feedback(s)