English Dub Review: The Tunnel To Summer, The End Of Goodbyes

Overview:

Based on the 2019 light novel written by Mei Hachimoku, The Tunnel To Summer, The End Of Goodbyes is a sci-fi/drama directed by Tomohisa Taguchi. Kaoru Tono (Gabriel Regojo) is a high school student attempting to navigate life while still mourning the loss of his sister. Although years have passed, Kaoru’s world is dim and void of the joy that once filled his world alongside his sister. Kaoru’s father is an alcoholic who’d rather spend his time staring down a bottle than with Kaoru. After his mother left their family behind, Kaoru is feeling increasingly isolated and alone in his struggles.

Meanwhile, Anzu Hanashiro (Patricia Duran) feels lost without grandfather, who she felt the closest to in her life. Her attempt to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a manga artist has caused a tremendous rift in her family. After being disowned by parents, Anzu has felt adrift in life as she searches for a way to feel special. Like Kaoru, Anzu also feels disconnected from the rest of the world. She spends her time glued to her grandfather’s old manga.  

When a serendipitous meeting brings Kaoru and Anzu together, they soon realize that they each have a lot in common. But it isn’t until Kaoru accidentally stumbles upon the “Urashima Tunnel” that the two become forever connected. While exploring an abandoned tunnel, Kaoru discovers that the tunnel supposedly has the ability to grant a wish to anybody who enters. But there’s a catch. The tunnel requires a costly sacrifice for anyone brave enough to venture inside and seek something in return.   

Anzu and Kaoru team up in an attempt to solve the mystery of the tunnel, but they each have their own ulterior motives. As they spend more time together and form an unbreakable bond, will they be able to do whatever it takes to see their wish become a reality? Can a desire to relive the past be enough to stop a budding romance? 

Our Take: 

The Tunnel To Summer, The End Of Goodbyes is a surprisingly emotional film that isn’t afraid to pull on the viewer’s heartstrings. The film doesn’t need big show-stopping action set pieces or steamy sex scenes to maintain its momentum. For better or for worse, the intriguing sci-fi elements that are woven into this simplistic love story do all of the heavy lifting for the film. With a script adapted by Taguchi, The Tunnel To Summer, The End Of Goodbyes does a fine job of balancing its science fiction elements with grounded human emotions. 

The ability to let go is a skill that many people never seem to learn their entire lives. Sometimes we hold onto items or even people that we need to let go. Stuck yearning to relive the past instead of seeing what’s in front of our faces in the present. This film explores the consequences of failing to mourn in healthy ways. Grief is a part of everyday life, but being held hostage by it will only amplify its damage. Bad days will turn into bad weeks. Bad weeks will turn into bad months. The longer we hold onto the past the more time we miss in our current lives. The Tunnel To Summer, The End Of Goodbyes does not shy away from getting its hands dirty exploring these themes. 

The artwork throughout the film is an impressive display of both restraint and creativity. Living in a world filled with sadness and despair can often feel like colors are muted. Anzu and Kaoru each have their own trauma that strips brightness from their lives. But inside the tunnel, inside the world filled with the endless possibilities of happier times, the artwork is chock full of bright colors and vivid imagery. There is an incredible sense of mystery and even hope within the walls of the tunnel. It feels like an entirely different world. 

The simplicity in this film is both its greatest strength and weakness. Following Anzu and Kaoru’s journey into overcoming grief and letting go of the past is a compelling story. But the impact their grief has on their personal life feels slightly undercooked. Anzu’s past is touched on, but not explored enough to really appreciate the complexity of her inner turmoil. In a similar fashion, Kaoru’s complicated relationship with his father never feels fully fleshed out. We can tell from bits and pieces that their home life is a complete wreck, but it unfortunately feels glossed over. Ultimately, this story comes down to Kaoru and Anzu’s journey to find a connection in a cold and empty world. This is their tale, with very few subplots and supporting characters to distract from it. 

The lore featured in this film is where restraint is perhaps practiced the most, unfortunately to a fault. There is a grand mystery behind the tunnel. After all, it’s what helps propel the narrative forward. However, instead of playing it up as a supporting character in this magical story, it eventually becomes lost as another piece of the scenery. Why is this tunnel so special? How well-known is the tunnel’s urban legend? Are people only pulled into the tunnel through luck or are they chosen? There doesn’t need to be an explicit exposition dump filled with concrete answers, but more time spent on the origins of the tunnel and its inner-workings would have done wonders. 

The Tunnel To Summer, The End Of Goodbyes is not a perfect film, but it is a refreshingly honest one. Grief is a complex response to loss that varies from person to person. For Anzu and Kaoru, their grief is the driving force for their entire character arcs. Their stories are not always thrilling or flashy, but they certainly have enough bite to carry the film. The Tunnel To Summer, The End Of Goodbyes may have sci-fi elements, but the movie is more about developing relationships and moving forward in the wake of loss at its core. Viewers who go into this film expecting a science fiction masterpiece may end up a bit disappointed. But for those eager to get lost in a hauntingly relatable story, The Tunnel To Summer, The End Of Goodbyes is well worth the watch.