20 Best Movies Of 2023

Another gleaming addition to the flawless catalogue of Makoto Shinkai, Suzume may just be the filmmaker's greatest achievement, a fantastical, visually intricate tale of growing up, saving the world, falling in love, and confronting what it means to stand tall in the face of adversity and self-doubt.

Suzume plays like a road movie, following its eponymous heroine as she races through Japan closing portals that could lead to a cataclysmic event should they be left unsealed. Along the way, she makes new friends, encounters past loss, and confronts the shifting uncertainty of her unwritten future.

Beautifully rendered with colourful, vibrant animation, as funny as it is moving, Suzume is a perfect companion piece to Shinkai's other endeavours, especially his previous effort, Weathering with You, another masterpiece that brilliantly balances profound humanity with epic fantasy without losing sight of its message.