Ride Your Wave (not rated)
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Caution: Spoilers!
A young woman named Hinako Mukaimizu returns to her childhood home town near the ocean to attend college, because she's missed surfing there ever since her family moved away. One day a group of people setting off illegal fireworks accidentally set fire to the building where Hinako lives, and she's rescued by a firefighter named Minato Hinageshi. Subsequently, Hinako starts teaching Minato to surf, and the two soon begin dating. Hinako tries to befriend Minato's younger sister, Yoko, but Yoko doesn't really seem to like anyone. But Hinako does befriend Minato's friend and fellow firefighter, Wasabi Kawamura.
Shortly after Christmas, Minato dies while trying to rescue a drowning victim, and Hinako is understandably terribly distraught. But she soon discovers that Minato's ghost will appear in any water when she sings a song they used to sing together. So she continues her relationship with him, even though they can't touch. Wasabi grows concerned about Hinako, not believing that she can really see and talk with Minato, and worrying that she isn't moving on with her life, as he believes Minato would want her to do. He also has fallen in love with her, though she can't return his feelings. Meanwhile, Yoko eventually confesses her love for Wasabi, and I guess the two of them begin dating.
Later, the same people who started the fire before break into a building to set off fireworks again. Yoko, having overheard their plans, follows them, along with Hinako, to obtain proof of their crime. When the building catches fire, she and Hinako are trapped, but Hinako calls on Minato to use his water powers to extinguish the fire. Yoko and Wasabi finally get to see Minato and say their goodbyes before he ascends to Heaven. Hinako becomes a lifeguard and resumes surfing, which she had given up after Minato's death.
Whew, I've said more than I really wanted to, but I don't feel like I could have very well left any of that out. I am leaving out some details, at least. Anyway, I liked all the characters, and I thought it was a pretty decent story. I felt sad for Hinako even when she was "dating" Minato's ghost. I'm glad she eventually moved on with her life, but she never stopped missing him, so I never stopped being sad. But it was a good kind of sad, I guess. I wouldn't feel that if it wasn't a good movie, right? And I guess I don't know what else to say.