There's possibly nothing more terrible for me than watching a film about a romance overshadowed by a fatal illness, which makes my selection of Life: Tears in Heaven quite exceptional.
The film tells the real-life story of Iijima Natsuki, from his sudden rise to the top as an international windsurfing champion to his demise at the hands of an invisible enemy he can't overcome.

Osawa Takao portrays the ambitious windsurfer who competes with a true passion for the sport, moving from place to place with his lover Hiroko (Ito Misaki). Despite often being chased for outstanding rent, Hiroko is still convinced that Natsuki will become a top sportsman some day and supports him every step of the way. He does not disappoint her expectations and becomes the first Japanese champion of an international windsurfing tournament. What follows is like a dream come true as the couple share a romantic wedding in beautiful Hawaii and later become the proud parents of four lovely children. The idyllic atmosphere comes to an abrupt end when Natsuki is diagnosed with liver cancer.

Life: Tears in Heaven doesn't have any spectacular scenes. There are no breathtaking shots that show Natsuki winning against gigantic odds. Yet, knowing what protagonist Natsuki is up against, viewers are still likely to be moved when he finally fulfills his dream of becoming the first Japanese windsurfer to make the jump into the world's elite. The episodes in Natsuki's life are characterized by the harmonic atmosphere and natural beauty of Natsuki's preferred home in Hawaii, and the comparatively frustrating surroundings of his temporary apartment in Japan during his later struggle with the malignant disease.

Something I really found praiseworthy about the film was the honest depiction of Natsuki's spiritual decline as a result of his fear of death, naturally leading to the question: "Why me?".
Luckily, the film ends on a positive note after Natsuki accepts his fate; he makes himself approachable to his family and outsiders again, and even steps on a windsurfing board once more. Adapted from the best-selling autobiography that he left behind, Life: Tears in Heaven should keep Natsuki smiling in heaven.