Poem of Wind and Trees (The)

Based on the manga classic by Keiko Takemiya, Kaze to Ki no Uta, Sanctus, (transliterated in English as 'The Poem of the Wind and the Trees') is a ground-breaking movie for many different reasons. The manga was one of the first and most successful series of manga in the then-budding genre of what is known as 'Shonen-ai' which is anime or manga that deals with love between young men, especially of the bishonen (a Japanese term literally meaning 'beautiful youth) variety. Bishonen is an art-form geared for and directed toward young girls in Japan and is known for providing a non-traditional outlet for gender relations, as well as breaking down stereotypes surrounding effeminate male characters. It is the story of two young men, Serge Batouille and Gilbert Cocteau, which takes place in the late 19th Century at Laconblade Academy in Provence, France. The whole movie is a series of Serge's recollections of his life at the Academy, and those specifically centering on his stormy relationship...

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