Synopsis
Maquia is a member of a special race called the Iorph who can live for hundreds of years. However, Maquia has always felt lonely despite being surrounded by her people, as she was orphaned from a young age. She daydreams about the outside world, but dares not travel from her home due to the warnings of the clan's chief. One day the kingdom of Mezarte invades her homeland. They already have what is left of the giant dragons, the Renato, under their control, and now their king wishes to add the immortality to his bloodline. They ravage the Iorph homeland and kill most of its inhabitants. Caught in the midst of the attack, Maquia is carried off by one of the Renato. It soon dies, and she is left deserted in a forest, now truly alone save for the cries of a single baby off in the distance. Maquia finds the baby in a destroyed village and decides to raise him as her own, naming him Ariel. Although she knows nothing of the human world, how to raise a child that ages much faster than her.
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Cast
- Manaka IwamiMaquia (voice)
- Miyu IrinoAriel (voice)
- Yuuki SakuraiYoung Ariel (voice)
- Ai KayanoLeilia (voice)
- Yuki KajiKrim (voice)
- Yoshimasa HosoyaLang (voice)
- Rina SatoMido (voice)
- Yoko HikasaDita (voice)
- Miyuki SawashiroRacine (voice)
- Tomokazu SugitaIzor (voice)
Recommendations
- 85
IGN
In her directorial debut Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, Mari Okada weaves a beautiful story about motherhood, aging, and loss. - 80
Time Out
Ultimately, it’s [Okada's] attention to the emotional content, honed over years of writing romantic youth dramas (both animated and live action), that makes ‘Maquia’ so compelling. It’s a coming-of-age story, of sorts, even if the main character can’t age. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
Okada both wrote and directed Maquia, which showcases her ability to depict complex relationships and project delicate character arcs. - 80
Variety
It’s possible that the film’s passing pleasures are so rich that we don’t even notice how deep Okada has driven her storytelling dagger until she pulls it out in the end, and the tears come, adding, to the bitterness and sweetness of this moving and strange little fable, a hefty dose of salt. - 75
ReelViews
Though not unusual for animated movies to provoke tears, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms is perhaps the second animated film I would openly classify as a “tearjerker” (the first being Grave of the Fireflies). - 70
Film Threat
If you’re not a fan of anime, give it try. Be open and patient. - 60
The Guardian
It is a poignant set-up but, disappointingly, Okada’s ideas about motherhood don’t cut as deep as they could. - 60
Los Angeles Times
At almost two hours, the film feels a bit long and suffers from multiple endings, but Okada is clearly a talent to watch.
