To Me, the One Who Loved You
Plot
As the daughter of a renowned scientist, Koyomi Hidaka has always been fascinated by her father's work at the research center. It is there that she meets Shiori Sato, the son of her father's colleague, and an instant connection is formed between the two teenagers. As they spend more time together, their bond grows stronger, and they begin to realize that their feelings for each other go beyond mere friendship. However, fate has other plans in store for them. Their parents, who have been working together at the research center, start dating and eventually get married. Koyomi and Shiori are devastated by the news, as it means they will be forced to become stepsiblings. Determined to avoid this awkward situation, they come up with a plan to run away from their homes and start a new life together. As they set out on their adventure, Koyomi and Shiori face numerous challenges and obstacles. They must navigate the complexities of being on the run, all while trying to maintain their relationship and keep their feelings for each other alive. Along the way, they encounter a cast of characters who help them in unexpected ways, including a quirky detective who becomes embroiled in their quest. Through it all, Koyomi and Shiori are forced to confront their own identities and the true nature of their love for each other. As they struggle to find a way back to each other, they learn valuable lessons about trust, sacrifice, and the power of human connection. Will they be able to overcome the odds and find a way to be together, or will their dreams of a life apart from their families prove too difficult to achieve?
Reviews
Mason
What truly moved me was the final line, "It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning at all." Even as time flowed on and the universe shifted, despite losing memories and experiences of each other, their essence remained unchanged. They were still meeting each other, at the best time, as the best version of themselves.
Ariana
Similar to "Hello World," this is a story about a stubbornly persistent male protagonist desperately trying to save the woman he loves. The premise is quite promising, but the development feels too abrupt and, frankly, very childish, like playing house. Are we really expected to believe that a research institution capable of traversing parallel worlds would allow family members and unruly kids to wander into the lab at will? The opening scenario where either the grandfather or the dog could live didn't lead the protagonist to any profound reflection on life, death, or the unidirectional nature of time; apparently, only the female lead's life matters. The second female lead sacrificing her entire life to assist the male lead in his time-travel and virtual space convergence plan to save the female lead is just too tragic a one-sided love story. In the end, the male and female leads are connected through virtual substance...
Raelynn
The temperature of life is the temperature of possibility. Living and dying, the temperature difference between them is the essence of life.
Joseph
Watching both movies together, the theme is exceptionally well-conceived.
Sophie
Dressed in a pseudo-sci-fi cloak, this film strings together two love stories while superficially capitalizing on the trendy parallel universe concept. Meeting her, or not—that's supposed to constitute a parallel world? A barrage of convoluted technical jargon is thrown in, but it serves no real purpose. The story progresses like a "Sims" game, rapidly advancing once the initial settings are input, with years and decades flashing by in a whirlwind. Marketed with the concept that "the order in which you watch them will affect the ending's development," "To Me, the One Who Loved You" and "To Every You I've Loved Before" were released simultaneously on the same day.
