Heavenly Forest (2006) Tada, Kimi Wo Aishiteru

Original title: Tada, Kimi Wo Aishiteru

Country: Japan

Year: 2006

Genre: Drama

IMDB Rating: 7.5 ^{684 votes}

Plot: Tada kimi wo aishiteru tells the story of 3 college students going to the same university. Makoto is a shy guy who wants to pursue photography and meets the strange quirky Shizuru on the day of the university entrance ceromony. Makoto and Shizuru quickly become friends and Makoto takes Shizuru to his favorite spot to shoot photos, a forbidden forest. All Shizuru wants to do is spend time with Makoto as he is her only friend although she wants more. One day at lunch, Makoto gets invited to sit with a group of other students where he meets Miyuki a girl which Makoto has feelings for. Shizuru isn't accepted into the circle of friends because of her being different. The story turns into a love triangle between the 3 and one day Shizuru drops out of college and leaves Japan to pursue her career as a photographer. Makoto goes on a search for her with the help of Miyuki. Their search ultimately leads them to New York.

Set in Japan and New York, Heavenly Forest is a junai (true love) story from author Ichikawa Takuji, based on his novel 'Renai Shashin: Mo Hitotsu no Monogatari' which was written as a spin-off of Tsutsumi Yukihiko's 2003 film 'Collage of Our Lives' (Renai Shashin) starring Hirosue Ryoko and Matsuda Ryuhei. Ichikawa is best known as the progenitor of the 'Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu' (Be With You) phenomenon, having penned the bestselling novel which became a massive hit movie starring future couple Nakamura Shido and Takeuchi Yuko.

Language: Japanese

Colormode: Color

Running time: 116