Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

"'Fantasy' often conjures visions of a Tolkien-esque mix of dragons, elves, quests and big blokes with axes, but Japanese writer-director Mari Okada's animated epic has done something impressively new with the genre."

"The animation here is dazzling: wheat glows golden in the fields; a dog bounds with the bliss of being able to run free on a warm day."

"Certainly isn't without its charms."

"Maquia is a solid directorial debut and, with its relatable message, it may also find the prolific screenwriter new fans."

"The storyline doesn't explore motherhood much farther than this, but the emotional resonance is powerfully evocative."

"...the story of Maquia and her odyssey into motherhood is both intimate and monumental."