I interpreted the Boy and the Heron as a film about Miyazaki's legacy, and how the world of Ghibli will survive (or not) without him. "Build your own tower" are almost words to his successor. There also hints that Hayao is referring to his son Goro in there as well.
Its also worth noting that his son wanted to study or work in architecture instead of being forced into movies, i think?, so the "build your own tower" things is VERY apt.
Yeah but also when goro directed tales beyond earth sea miyazaki purposefully gave him no help and didn't let anyone else help him too... the film is autobiographical in nature, and i felt the same way about that message too. In many ways his actions towards goro caused his empire to crumble.
also mahitos rejection of being the successor of that world is in a way miyazaki reconciling with his inability to find a successor and thus even if ghibli doesnt stay forever it's still fine, hence "its okay to forget"
Seen it twice now and it just gets better on rewatch. It's very much Miyazaki's reckoning with his artform, his life and with his legacy. I even saw elements of guilt with how he's treated his Son Goro and his family as a result of his dedication to the artform. A stunning late career work from one of the all time greatest creators.
It's hard to believe that Robert Pattinson is the voice of the Heron as it sounds NOTHING like him, I honestly thought that was William Dafoe at first, I hope he gets to voice act some more in more animated character roles because his voice acting is outstandingly remarkable!
@@motherplayer Given both are set around the same time in countries that fell victim to the great far-right tide of the interwar period, I think I can see where you’re coming from.
"She says like literally music is the air she breathes And the malaprops make me wanna f*cking scream I wonder if she even knows what that word means Well it’s literally not that"
The first act of this is probably already one of my favorite things Miyazaki has ever done. I have a strong urge to watch the entire thing again because I thought the shift to a lighter movie was kind of odd and I’m still not sure what I think of the latter two acts of it. But the desire to watch it again is honestly all I’m asking for in the first viewing of a movie like this.
@@ghiblinerd6196 Stories don't need to have three acts. Thinking everything needs to slot neatly into a three act structure is a recent convention that comes from trying to create formulas for screenwriting. Shakespeare for example wrote 5 act plays. Miyazaki is trying to use different structure, not a conventional 3 acts. It still has clear act breaks, if you define acts as a point of no return in the narrative.
The animation was breath-taking and the background sound work was amazing. I just saw it last night in a small independent theater near me with my daughters, one of which is a huge Studio Ghibli fan. I know it sounds funny to also highlight the background sound work, but what made it special to me was especially the beginning where, there were small details that were expertly timed/done in a way that punctuated the stark "silence" in between them- like even the sounds of Japanese wooden sandals walking on boardwalks around their homes and things of that nature...it's hard to describe without seeing/hearing it.
I recently watched a documentary from Japan called "The Professionals" on NHK. The documentary follows the journey of Hayao Miyazaki since the death of his critical and special friend, Senpai, colleague, and rival Isao Takahata, whom Miyazaki affectionately called Paku-san. The loss of Takahata was a significant struggle for Miyazaki, but he was able to channel his feelings into creating a character in his film based on Takahata - the great uncle. Additionally, Miyazaki used two other characters in the film to represent those close to him - the producer Suzuki-san as the grey Heron and himself as the young boy. I have already booked a ticket for the UK release on Boxing Day and really look forward to it. I get emotional just by watching the trailer and listening to the theme song by Kenshi Yonezu, who spent over two years writing the music for the film. According to Kenshi, the song made Miyazaki cry when Kenshi recorded it on a CD and played it for Miyazaki and Suzuki first time.
Miyazaki also said the movie was a gift to his grandson, and it you read it that way you'd read the Grand Uncle as Miyazaki and the boy as his grandson. There's many ways to read it and many layers poured into it. What Suzuki says is no doubt a big part of the film but I think there's a danger of that becoming 'the' way to interpret the film rather than people having their own experience of it.
This is my favorite movie thus far this year. I look forward to Zone of Interest and Poor Things but how can you possibly top the powerhouse emotional gut punch this movie slams you with. You’re watching a man reflect on his own life, his regrets and his losses, and ending on a positive beat. It’s so personal and nakedly the director’s explanation of who he is, and I just can’t say enough about it in a UA-cam comment!
Hold on a second, *spoilers* My understanding is that Mahito rejects the offer to build his own kingdom because, as a human, he knows he’s an imperfect being, and so he opts to stay in the real world and rejects the world of illusions because he’s self aware of his own human fallibility.
Absolutely love the movie. With regards to Marks review: Instead of Inception, the much better reference is Paprika, the original anime that Inception was heavily inspired by. Some scenes did remind me a bit of it.
Thanks Mark. Going to see this on Saturday with my son, I'm really looking forward to it. Great description. Whilst there are difficult themes in it, I think that's what makes Ghibli films so good for kids. Life is not all birthday parties and bubblegum pop. The lead characters are usually a youth who has to overcome demons whether metaphorical or literal or both. These are lessons that we need to teach our kids.
Really looking forward to seeing this on Wednesday. Already sold on it anyway but Mark's review (including Exorcist reference) was the icing on the cake.
This movie was much more difficult to understand than previous Ghibli movies. It was difficult, not like an animated movie, but like a French movie. This is a must-see for anyone who likes thinking or interpreting art, but I don't recommend watching it like you're going to see a Marvel movie with your family.
Just back from the cinema and already thinking about when I can watch it again, and I very rarely watch a film twice in a row (the only other two being Inglorious Basterds and Watchmen).
What a fabulous film. Every time I see a Miyazaki I'm amazed at how unique they are. My one complaint was after seeing the original language version whoever did the subtitles should be sent to the Tower. So many Americanisms in the wording and the phrases almost ruined it for me. I cannot believe that 1940s era Japanese would speak in the style of a modern Californinian.
Japanese here. It is strange how people in the west kind of accept Hayao Miyazaki film as really good. Honestly this film divided ---- or scratched many heads. I saw it trice in theaters. The animation itself was decent, but it was not anything we haven't seen from Ghibli before. The story, is well, you know how Hayao Miyazaki stopped caring for story integrity ever since after the later half of Spirited Away..... The obvious (to Japanese viewers) way to "read" this film is, to know Hayao Miyazaki's personal life as a child and his work partners over the years. However, to be frank, this film did nothing special to me. Which was a disappointment. But still, it is a Hayao Miyazaki Ghibli film.... the quality is better than most other animation films.
I'm surprised by a lot of the comments here gushing over it. I thought the animation was superb as always with Ghibli but I just didn't connect with it like his other works. I also found the ending incredibly frustrating too. My friend and I just looked at each other in disbelief that the film ended that way.
I agree. I saw it last night and my disappointment was not lifted at any point throughout. I found it very formulaic, with no truly endearing characters and 3 or 4 massive dislocating lurches in the story/edit. For a finale, it's a poor whimper. Very sad.
Controversial opinion but I saw this last night, first third is beautiful and emotional and then it turns into an incomprehensible boring mess. Everything Mark usually hates about modern superhero or Star Wars movies is here- things just happen, they suddenly have to complete tasks for no obvious reason, random characters are introduced, nonsensical plot lines are never resolved (oh no, the pelicans are in the graveyard, he's entered the birth chamber...just..what?!) For me this was, by some distance, the worst Ghibli film I've seen.
Sadly, I agree. At least the pelicans had some artistry, but the parakeets seemed to have been drawn in a rush. And yes, the 'birth chamber ' still mystifies me?!
The movie makes no sense. It looks great and has amazing animation but the characters are often doing things for no reason. I swear the movie is an allegory for how the studio is going to collapse.
@@blackphillipppp Maybe they think they can pull the same "it'll travel by word of mouth on wings of its own reputation" thing outside Japan as they did in Japan. Alas, it won't work, and it might bite them in the behind.
Babe, wake up! He mentioned The Exorcist again!
Yes honey
Lol
😂
I interpreted the Boy and the Heron as a film about Miyazaki's legacy, and how the world of Ghibli will survive (or not) without him. "Build your own tower" are almost words to his successor. There also hints that Hayao is referring to his son Goro in there as well.
Yep. That’s exactly it.
Its also worth noting that his son wanted to study or work in architecture instead of being forced into movies, i think?, so the "build your own tower" things is VERY apt.
Yeah but also when goro directed tales beyond earth sea miyazaki purposefully gave him no help and didn't let anyone else help him too... the film is autobiographical in nature, and i felt the same way about that message too. In many ways his actions towards goro caused his empire to crumble.
yea by the way the granduncle was so absent from the boy's life too@@N1njaSquirrel
also mahitos rejection of being the successor of that world is in a way miyazaki reconciling with his inability to find a successor and thus even if ghibli doesnt stay forever it's still fine, hence "its okay to forget"
Seen it twice now and it just gets better on rewatch. It's very much Miyazaki's reckoning with his artform, his life and with his legacy. I even saw elements of guilt with how he's treated his Son Goro and his family as a result of his dedication to the artform. A stunning late career work from one of the all time greatest creators.
Went completely over my head anyway, but I was repeatedly shocked by the beauty of it
This movie gives me hope that Robert Pattinson has a Hamil-esque second career in voice acting.
I hope not because it would take time away from his incredible acting career.
@@timwatley4793 do you think mark hamill's voice acting career was a mistake or a stain to this whole overall acting career?
@@timwatley4793voice acting is acting... And animated films are on the same level of prestige as live action
It's hard to believe that Robert Pattinson is the voice of the Heron as it sounds NOTHING like him, I honestly thought that was William Dafoe at first, I hope he gets to voice act some more in more animated character roles because his voice acting is outstandingly remarkable!
Funny enough, I was more thinking of "Pan's Labayrinth" with this movie than "Inception" when I was watching.
For a long stretch of the movie, I was actually reminded of Le Guin´s Earthsea, but I must be just weird.
@@Dacre1000 It is fun that we are all finding our own little feelings on this.
@@motherplayer Given both are set around the same time in countries that fell victim to the great far-right tide of the interwar period, I think I can see where you’re coming from.
Miyazaki films and Hisaishi music, are literally my soul
Same
"She says like literally music is the air she breathes
And the malaprops make me wanna f*cking scream
I wonder if she even knows what that word means
Well it’s literally not that"
I very much know how you feel
The first act of this is probably already one of my favorite things Miyazaki has ever done. I have a strong urge to watch the entire thing again because I thought the shift to a lighter movie was kind of odd and I’m still not sure what I think of the latter two acts of it. But the desire to watch it again is honestly all I’m asking for in the first viewing of a movie like this.
The pacing was so terrible I couldn’t define where the first, second, and third acts started and ended
@@ghiblinerd6196 Stories don't need to have three acts. Thinking everything needs to slot neatly into a three act structure is a recent convention that comes from trying to create formulas for screenwriting. Shakespeare for example wrote 5 act plays. Miyazaki is trying to use different structure, not a conventional 3 acts. It still has clear act breaks, if you define acts as a point of no return in the narrative.
The animation was breath-taking and the background sound work was amazing. I just saw it last night in a small independent theater near me with my daughters, one of which is a huge Studio Ghibli fan. I know it sounds funny to also highlight the background sound work, but what made it special to me was especially the beginning where, there were small details that were expertly timed/done in a way that punctuated the stark "silence" in between them- like even the sounds of Japanese wooden sandals walking on boardwalks around their homes and things of that nature...it's hard to describe without seeing/hearing it.
Art.
An abstract masterpiece with the best depiction of trauma shown on film.
I recently watched a documentary from Japan called "The Professionals" on NHK. The documentary follows the journey of Hayao Miyazaki since the death of his critical and special friend, Senpai, colleague, and rival Isao Takahata, whom Miyazaki affectionately called Paku-san.
The loss of Takahata was a significant struggle for Miyazaki, but he was able to channel his feelings into creating a character in his film based on Takahata - the great uncle.
Additionally, Miyazaki used two other characters in the film to represent those close to him - the producer Suzuki-san as the grey Heron and himself as the young boy.
I have already booked a ticket for the UK release on Boxing Day and really look forward to it.
I get emotional just by watching the trailer and listening to the theme song by Kenshi Yonezu, who spent over two years writing the music for the film.
According to Kenshi, the song made Miyazaki cry when Kenshi recorded it on a CD and played it for Miyazaki and Suzuki first time.
Miyazaki also said the movie was a gift to his grandson, and it you read it that way you'd read the Grand Uncle as Miyazaki and the boy as his grandson. There's many ways to read it and many layers poured into it. What Suzuki says is no doubt a big part of the film but I think there's a danger of that becoming 'the' way to interpret the film rather than people having their own experience of it.
Crazy you didn't mention that the Heron was voiced by Robert Pattinson in that trailer! Simon would have loved to hear that!
This is my favorite movie thus far this year. I look forward to Zone of Interest and Poor Things but how can you possibly top the powerhouse emotional gut punch this movie slams you with. You’re watching a man reflect on his own life, his regrets and his losses, and ending on a positive beat. It’s so personal and nakedly the director’s explanation of who he is, and I just can’t say enough about it in a UA-cam comment!
Yeh this was a masterpiece
Miyazaki is my favorite director so this is gonna be special, thanks for the review and the Exorcist reference in a freaking Miyazaki review.
Hold on a second, *spoilers*
My understanding is that Mahito rejects the offer to build his own kingdom because, as a human, he knows he’s an imperfect being, and so he opts to stay in the real world and rejects the world of illusions because he’s self aware of his own human fallibility.
Absolutely love the movie. With regards to Marks review: Instead of Inception, the much better reference is Paprika, the original anime that Inception was heavily inspired by. Some scenes did remind me a bit of it.
I love Studio Ghibli and every time I hear Mark Kermode mention the Exorcist my heart is filled with joy
I loved it. There’s a lot going on, but that just meant there was a lot to think about after. Also, as usual it looks stunning
It’s infuriatingly hard to find a cinema playing this near me. I’ll literally have to take an hour trip into London to do so.
Thanks Mark. Going to see this on Saturday with my son, I'm really looking forward to it. Great description. Whilst there are difficult themes in it, I think that's what makes Ghibli films so good for kids. Life is not all birthday parties and bubblegum pop. The lead characters are usually a youth who has to overcome demons whether metaphorical or literal or both. These are lessons that we need to teach our kids.
Kermode reviewing Ghibli? Yes please.
Really looking forward to seeing this on Wednesday. Already sold on it anyway but Mark's review (including Exorcist reference) was the icing on the cake.
It was like being in someone else's dream for a couple of hours...
Brilliant film!...
This movie was much more difficult to understand than previous Ghibli movies.
It was difficult, not like an animated movie, but like a French movie.
This is a must-see for anyone who likes thinking or interpreting art, but I don't recommend watching it like you're going to see a Marvel movie with your family.
Took my family for a Boxing Day outing. It got us out of the door but is not a patch on Godzilla Minus One which we saw on the 24th.
The way they animate flesh boggles and horrifies in equal measure. The fish scene 🤢, the man busting out of the heron’s beak 🤮, incredible film.
Yes it perfectly encapsulates that bizarre, revolting nature of organic material expanding and shrinking in ways that only bodily material can do
So cool that Robert Pattinson is the heron in the dubbed version
Just back from the cinema and already thinking about when I can watch it again, and I very rarely watch a film twice in a row (the only other two being Inglorious Basterds and Watchmen).
My local cinema doesn't seem to playing it 😔
Both subtitled and English-dubbed versions playing here, though I may have to choose...
I knew Mark would like this movie.
What a fabulous film. Every time I see a Miyazaki I'm amazed at how unique they are.
My one complaint was after seeing the original language version whoever did the subtitles should be sent to the Tower. So many Americanisms in the wording and the phrases almost ruined it for me. I cannot believe that 1940s era Japanese would speak in the style of a modern Californinian.
It's a shame that from where I live, people don't really care about japanese movies. Even this movie had only one week showing and then gone
where??
Is it like a Don Bluth film where you have to endure the dark stuff to get to the golden ending?
How is that Robert Patterson 😳
Japanese here. It is strange how people in the west kind of accept Hayao Miyazaki film as really good. Honestly this film divided ---- or scratched many heads. I saw it trice in theaters. The animation itself was decent, but it was not anything we haven't seen from Ghibli before. The story, is well, you know how Hayao Miyazaki stopped caring for story integrity ever since after the later half of Spirited Away..... The obvious (to Japanese viewers) way to "read" this film is, to know Hayao Miyazaki's personal life as a child and his work partners over the years. However, to be frank, this film did nothing special to me. Which was a disappointment. But still, it is a Hayao Miyazaki Ghibli film.... the quality is better than most other animation films.
I'm surprised by a lot of the comments here gushing over it. I thought the animation was superb as always with Ghibli but I just didn't connect with it like his other works. I also found the ending incredibly frustrating too. My friend and I just looked at each other in disbelief that the film ended that way.
I agree. I saw it last night and my disappointment was not lifted at any point throughout. I found it very formulaic, with no truly endearing characters and 3 or 4 massive dislocating lurches in the story/edit.
For a finale, it's a poor whimper. Very sad.
My friend and I felt exactly the same. We left the cinema quite puzzled and disappointed.
It wasn’t for me.
Animation was wonderful but I just wasn’t picking up what it was putting down.
first act very good, then it just keeps introducing more and more new elements, lost the plot and emotional impact
Controversial opinion but I saw this last night, first third is beautiful and emotional and then it turns into an incomprehensible boring mess. Everything Mark usually hates about modern superhero or Star Wars movies is here- things just happen, they suddenly have to complete tasks for no obvious reason, random characters are introduced, nonsensical plot lines are never resolved (oh no, the pelicans are in the graveyard, he's entered the birth chamber...just..what?!) For me this was, by some distance, the worst Ghibli film I've seen.
Sadly, I agree. At least the pelicans had some artistry, but the parakeets seemed to have been drawn in a rush. And yes, the 'birth chamber ' still mystifies me?!
The movie makes no sense. It looks great and has amazing animation but the characters are often doing things for no reason. I swear the movie is an allegory for how the studio is going to collapse.
Was very disappointed by the movie. No idea why so many people like it. It's aesthetics over good story telling.
It's not showing in any cinemas near me. Im fuming.
Same. What the actual?!
I found one that does, I don't know why we don't check that theater more often. They also have a big VHS tapes on display for the hell of it.
@@satyasyasatyasya5746 its a big film, i don't understand why nobody here is showing it. Makes me so mad
@@blackphillipppp Maybe they think they can pull the same "it'll travel by word of mouth on wings of its own reputation" thing outside Japan as they did in Japan. Alas, it won't work, and it might bite them in the behind.
i bet there'll be plenty of Aquashite showings though