Gauche the Cellist

Simple. Wonderful. Beautiful. Comforting like a hot mug of hot chocolate in front of a warm fire! A rarely seen Takahata gem. A film any musician should appreciate.

Before Studio Ghibli was officially formed in 1985 and after Miyazaki directed Castle of Cagliostro in 1979, Takahata directed Gauche the Cellist in 1982. Standing at only an hour long, this is the perfect pop-in (vhs reference) movie for that day when you just cannot agree on what to watch. This film features Gauche, a cellist, and by the way the conductor is super disappointed in his playing during a rehearsal, is not all that great a player. With the big concert just around the corner, Gauche must step up his game or else risk disappointing everybody. Motivation being on his side, he goes back tohis small lonely little cottage house and starts to practice. Each concurring night, he is visited by a different animal, which in turn, helps teach him different techniques that end up improving his playing. A nice story told basically in music form. If it has not been guessed yet, the music in this anime is superb. The old classical music seems to match and blend perfectly with the old coloring and hashing style of the art. Most would think that the art is out dated, but in some realities it is simply unique and different. Gauche the Cellist really puts the viewer into the audience chair during each of Gauche’s performances. A different technique, some light humour, just a really simple and nice story that brings some peace to the anime world.

The movie is not too popular I guess since its very old now (1982). But its a Ghibli movie so one would be attracted just by the Ghibli tag to watch it once. The same happened with me as well. While searching for music genre I accidentally came across this movie. But was really glad that I did. So a few thoughts on the movie now: Story [9/10]: The story is rather simple actually. Based in the countryside of Japan in the era of the 80s. Goshu is a Cello player in a choir. Always making mistakes on some of the fine playing whenever the choiris practicing. The conductor of the choir thus gets mad at him many a times. Goshu tries hard to perfect his playing by practicing on the Cello at his home every night after finishing his chores for the day. Every time during his practice he is interrupted by one of the animals living nearby his home. Yes the house is away from the town he goes for his choir practices everyday, so there are lots of small animals, birds around. Though he is interrupted every time by these animals they somehow help him by teaching the tunes he is trying to perfect. The story is very well written. I always find that stories written in the olden times were much much more imaginative than they are nowadays. Continuity of the story in the movie is good and it builds up an atmosphere of the typical countryside. Overall there is a feeling of -i watched something very nice- at the end of the film exactly because of the atmosphere that the movie creates. Animation [7/10]: Animation is okay. I think good according to the technology of the 80s probably. Movements of the charatcres and the animals shown are smooth enough most of the times. So its not all that bad. Art [7/10]: Art again I give a 7. Characters drawn are too fat. but the animals are drawn well. The landscape portrays the countryside well. Goshu's home looks really nice though its in a sort of an isolated place away from town. Sound [8/10]: Music is good. Western Classical songs played during choir practices and when goshu is practicing at his home. Background music is okay again good considering the time in which it was made. Character [10/10]: All the characters in the choir are very well portrayed. Gives an essence of the typical countryside folks. Animals also have been given distinct personalities very much suitable as to what kind of animal it is. Enjoyment and Overall [9/10]: Really enjoyed watching this old movie for a change. The Ghibli type elements of fantasy are there in this movie as well. Enjoyed seeing the countryside in the movie. Overall a good watch.

Absolutely gorgeous movie about a musician rekinding his passion. The story itself is not new (nor was it in 1982), but the delivery is absolutely brilliant. The soundtrack and art direction are top of the line, which makes sense since it's a movie about a musician, under the ghibli tag, and the mind of Miyazaki behind it. The movie is very simple, very straightforward, yet we're immediately drawn in from the very first second and it's hard not to go along for the ride as we see Gauche reconnect with his passion and his emotions as we see all the different characters that come visit him inhis musical journey. Definitely recommend to both musicians and nonmusicians alike. I feel like it can be relatable on many levels regardless of your background, and at the very least, it's a beautiful movie.