(Haru): A Romance Between Two People Connected by the Internet

What Is (Haru)?

Released in 1996, (Haru) is a love story directed by Yoshimitsu Morita about communication through the internet, still unusual at the time. Starring Eri Fukatsu and Seiyo Uchino, it sensitively depicts the nuances of romance arising from exchanges of text alone.

A New Form of Romance Woven Through Words

The story follows Haru and Hoshi, who meet on a film bulletin board and become drawn to one another through messages without knowing each other’s faces. Their relationship, in which they connect through words without meeting in person, felt fresh to audiences at the time and seemed to anticipate today’s social media era.

Yoshimitsu Morita’s Delicate Direction

Morita brilliantly expresses the pair’s feelings while showing chat screens and email exchanges. Beautifully framed views of Tokyo further emphasize the loneliness and yearning of two people unable to meet in person. The film is characterized by minimal direction and a structure that conveys the characters’ emotions directly.

The Changing Times Depicted in (Haru)

In the late 1990s, internet use was not yet widespread, and meeting someone online was something special. (Haru) was a pioneering film that demonstrated the possibilities of digital communication in that era. Morita had already brought online romance, now commonplace, to the screen. Its foresight and warm perspective continue to fascinate many people today.