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Shown Love [Paradise Kiss Mini Review]
Okay, so I'm an unabashed romantic. Most of my favorite stories revolve around or else contain romance, and most of my writing reflects that. Just now, I finished rewatching Paradise Kiss for the first time since I saw it in theaters and oh, guys, the ending.
In the movie, the two lead characters–a university-age designer and his amateur model–part ways to pursue their careers, meet by chance in New York three years later, and end up together. In the manga (which I haven't read), they split up and...the end.
I prefer the movie's ending. But what I like most about it and why it made me tear up and go all heart-clenchy and got me to write about it for ALL THE INTERNETS TO SEE isn't just the fact that they end up together. It's the scene of their reunion itself that got to me.
Yukari lets herself into George's New York apartment (because the front door was left ajar and let's not even start with how no that is anywhere in New York City, seriously, movie) and as she's looking around his enormous studio furnished with numerous design tools and reams of multicolored fabric, the wind streams in through the open window (this is somewhat understandable from a boy who lived in a high-rise for most of his life but still, movie, you're making me reach here) and scatters his sketches. She hurries to close the window and pick up the papers and knocks over a stack of magazines, all featuring her in some way.
Down on the sidewalk, George picks up one of the errant sketches.
Upstairs, Yukari looks at the photographs that span her fledgling career as a professional model and her eyes start to water. The last thing she said to him, apart from, "Goodbye," was, "I'll make it on my own."
George runs into his apartment, his face completely open and surprised.
She looks at him, wrecked.
He breathes out a single, quiet laugh. Puts the paper down. Hesitates, then gives up his pride and runs to her.
She meets him halfway, he pulls her close, cradles the back of her head with one hand, and just holds her.
And then they kiss.
There's no dialogue at all. That's what I love about it.
It didn't need dialogue. It didn't need anything except what it showed. And I love that the director trusted and respected her audience enough to end the movie that way.




Gorgeous movie. I recommend it. ♥
In the movie, the two lead characters–a university-age designer and his amateur model–part ways to pursue their careers, meet by chance in New York three years later, and end up together. In the manga (which I haven't read), they split up and...the end.
I prefer the movie's ending. But what I like most about it and why it made me tear up and go all heart-clenchy and got me to write about it for ALL THE INTERNETS TO SEE isn't just the fact that they end up together. It's the scene of their reunion itself that got to me.
Yukari lets herself into George's New York apartment (because the front door was left ajar and let's not even start with how no that is anywhere in New York City, seriously, movie) and as she's looking around his enormous studio furnished with numerous design tools and reams of multicolored fabric, the wind streams in through the open window (this is somewhat understandable from a boy who lived in a high-rise for most of his life but still, movie, you're making me reach here) and scatters his sketches. She hurries to close the window and pick up the papers and knocks over a stack of magazines, all featuring her in some way.
Down on the sidewalk, George picks up one of the errant sketches.
Upstairs, Yukari looks at the photographs that span her fledgling career as a professional model and her eyes start to water. The last thing she said to him, apart from, "Goodbye," was, "I'll make it on my own."
George runs into his apartment, his face completely open and surprised.
She looks at him, wrecked.
He breathes out a single, quiet laugh. Puts the paper down. Hesitates, then gives up his pride and runs to her.
She meets him halfway, he pulls her close, cradles the back of her head with one hand, and just holds her.
And then they kiss.
There's no dialogue at all. That's what I love about it.
It didn't need dialogue. It didn't need anything except what it showed. And I love that the director trusted and respected her audience enough to end the movie that way.
Gorgeous movie. I recommend it. ♥