Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

Synopsis

In the land of the Iorph, a race blessed with immortality and centuries-long lifespans, Maquia endures deep loneliness after losing her parents as a child. Although she lives forever, she longs to explore the world beyond her secluded home but heeds the warnings of her clan's leader. Her solitude is shattered when the ambitious kingdom of Mezarte invades. After taming the giant dragons known as Renato, the Mezarte king seeks to exploit the Iorph's eternal nature to strengthen his own bloodline. Amidst the slaughter of her people, Maquia is carried away by a wild Renato that later perishes, leaving her stranded in a distant forest. In the ruins of a village, she finds solace in the cry of a human baby. Choosing to raise the child, whom she names Ariel, Maquia embarks on a difficult journey as a mother. Though she knows nothing of human customs and understands the chasm between her unchanging existence and Ariel's rapid aging, she dedicates herself to raising him and confronting her endless loneliness.

Background

Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou, abbreviated as SayoAsa, is the directorial debut of screenwriter Mari Okada. Outside of Japan, the film made its international premiere at the 2018 Glasgow Film Festival. It went on to receive the Golden Goblet Award for Best Animation Film at the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival, and was named Best Feature Length Film in the Fantastic Discovery section at the 51st Sitges Film Festival. The film has earned more than 350 million yen in domestic box office revenues.