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Poster for Only Yesterday

Only Yesterday

Seen it?

1991 | 119 min | Animation, Drama

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for animation lovers. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Feel-good.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 59 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG: peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

In lyrical switches between the present and the past, Taeko contemplates the arc of her life, and wonders if she has been true to the dreams of her childhood self.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    2 wins and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $473K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 264K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Isao Takahata

  • Miki ImaiTaeko Okajima (voice)
  • Yoko HonnaTaeko Okajima as a Fifth Grader (voice)
  • Toshiro YanagibaToshio (voice)
  • Yorie YamashitaNanako Okajima (voice)
  • Yuki MinowaYaeko Okajima (voice)
  • Masahiro ItoTaeko's Father (voice)
  • Michie TeradaTaeko's Mother (voice)
  • Chie KitagawaTaeko's Grandmother (voice)
  • Mayumi IzukaTsuneko Tani (voice)
  • Mei OshitaniAiko (voice)