For this film, keeping the sense of ritual is a very wise choice. Not only the abundant details brought strong persuasion for this slightly old-fashioned story, but also make the enjoyment of some independent chapters prominent, skillfully cover up the fact that the structure of script is not organized very well as a whole. What's more, the idea of the sheer artisan spirit is more about respect than empathy, so the film adds some straightaway, popular emotion to make audience feel sympathy, however, it seems make the film a bit off the point.

Viewed at CineMatsuri 2014 and on BRD. Winner of six Japanese Academy Awards (including: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Actor; and Best Screenplay). And it's easy to see why. One may quibble with the translated title, but not in the least with the quality of this compact and low-keyed, but audience-magnet of a motion picture. This unpretentious tale captures and distills basic cultural traits that helped Japan become the second largest global economy after losing WWII: perseverance and attention to even the smallest detail along, of course, with a lot of hard work and extreme patience. The story centers on a very shy, entry-level salary-man who is a lexicon geek. He is short-straw "selected" by his superiors at a book company to try to save and complete (or take the blame for ditching--there are a number of plot twists) a publishing project seemingly doomed from the start: a multi-year effort to develop a definitive, uniquely-fashioned, and marketable dictionary in hard-copy format! (The film seems to take place in the 1990's, so the age of free, online digital dictionaries has yet to dawn. But hand-held electronic dictionaries were already quite common.) A coming-of-age movie, but one that does not contains the usual trivia. This time out it includes a coming-of-age marked by confidence emerging from feelings of inferiority, leadership from passivity, maturation from micro interests (just compiling words) to macro concerns (writing, editing, and marketing dictionaries), and focused tenacity from just going (no where) with the flow. The movie also provides another indication that mature, quality films targeting grownups (and those who think like real adults) are returning to the Japanese cinema. Disc surround sound field (in 5.1 digital) and dialog looping are excellent. The lack of English subtitles on discs in current release is not all bad. Repeated viewings can help expand your understanding of informal, every-day conversational Japanese. The dialog is fairly straight forward and not too complex. It also contains very little slang. Plus the actors provide plenty of communication cues using body language (an acting technique found uniquely in most/all quality Japanese films, both "classical and "modern"). Not much more needs to be added given the film's acclaim and popularity (all screenings were sold out where I saw the movie). Oh yes, there is just one thing, an open question really: when will Shochiku Studio home video release this movie gem with English subtitles and the proper regional codes for USA players?! (Until then, be careful: there are many disc versions in release as of the time of this review, but--as far as I can discover--no DVDs using Region 1 (USA) encryption with English subtitles and no BRDs using Region A/1 (North America) encryption with English subtitles.) WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.

This is one of my favorite movies. The story is about that a man, Majime, completes new dictionary. Majime moves to an editing dictionary office in publish company. He is quiet and not good at communicating with others, but he is attracted by editing a dictionary. Therefore, he can get along with other editors at the same office. Then, he becomes expressive. I didn't know that it takes many years to complete one dictionary and how to make a dictionary until I watched this movie. It is very hard. The last scene so moving that I'm smiling instinctively. Also, Majime lodges at Take's house. He loves a daughter of Take, Kaguya. At first, Majime can't convey the feeling to her, but they gradually become friends. I like the mood between them. They can understand each other in spite of a little word. It is an ideal and so nice.

The Great Passage is a rare story describing how a serious, quiet and shy young man pursues his massive project at work with great diligence and passion while winning his dream girl along the way.When low-keyed, non-expressive and introvert Mitsuya Majime (meaning serious in Japanese! Played by Ryuhei Matsuda) is transferred to a new position in his publishing company to compile a dictionary, his life is forever changed. Originally a misfit salesman, Majime is perfect for his new role as editor. In fact, the clumsy young man is an outcast even in this society which values outgoing and talkative personalities. Equally out of date is the project he is working on – a paper dictionary in a society with online and mobile communication.Majime may be old fashioned: he works in a company which clings to an old dream to help users understand reality in the wide ocean of knowledge, by means of patiently weaving the boat of dictionary, "The Great Passage." He himself is also conservative in expressing his feelings to the girl of his dream, also granddaughter of his landlady, Kaguya Hayashi (Aoi Miyazaki) who aspires to be a chef in competitive Tokyo.Yet we cannot help but admire Majime's dedication to his work: he meticulously looks for sources of new words and their explanations; he pays immense effort in researching the type of paper with the right touch for the dictionary. When the deadline edges in, he even camps in the office with his temporary helpers to iron out the mistakes until they finally meet the deadline.Equally serious is how he approaches the muse of his life by offering explanations of words to coincide her careful action in the kitchen. What a nice merge of both threads in the movie! It was amusing when we see how he struggles to verbalize his feelings for her. Afterall, feelings have to be expressed.Compiling a dictionary in an ever changing world could be daunting and overwhelming. But the director made it very interesting and almost sacred, not to mention the funny scene when the editors stay in a fast food chain to "overhear" youngsters' conversations. The romantic and hilarious courtship almost convince us that when there is genuine love and care, perhaps whatever you say does not matter that much: action often speaks better than words. In the same token, ironically, despite all the detailed explanations of the dictionary, perhaps sometimes the highest level of communication does not need, or cannot be expressed by, any words.This is also a movie on realizing our dreams by intense focus and persistence: whether it is becoming a chef or compiling a comprehensive dictionary. Yes, it may take a whole decade to complete, but it is well worth the effort, especially in this fast changing world. The fact that they remain in the same old house and office all through the years echoes the themes that in this vast sea of mobility and changes, there is a need to anchor on something/someone constant before we can move forward.The cast are excellent. Matsuda and Miyazaki shine in portraying the young, shy and kind lovers. You can't help feeling sorry and impatient for them. But in the end, I guarantee you will admire and appreciate their painstaking effort, both in love and in work.