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The renowned Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki has reversed his decision to retire, which he had previously announced in 2013, and has now written and directed a new feature film. In cinematic terms, it is like Prospero repairing his staff and continuing on with his magic. Does the magic still have the same effect?
I found The Boy and the Heron to be a captivating and enigmatic fantasy that revisits Miyazaki’s familiar themes of childhood suffering and sorrow, shaped by the aftermath of World War II. The author also makes a noteworthy point about his inspiration from classic English children’s literature. At times, it brings to mind Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and CS Lewis’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Interestingly, the film’s original title, How Do You Live?, is derived from a 1937 Japanese novel (similar to modern-day YA) by Genzaburō Yoshino, which is referenced in the film and a personal favorite of Miyazaki’s.
How do you go about your life? Is it by making peace with your past, by forgetting it, or by changing it into something that you can handle and manipulate, something that won’t crush you? Mahito is a young boy whose mother died in 1943 during a bombing by the allied forces. His father remarries his late wife’s sister and a few years later, they move to his wife’s family’s country estate. The estate is home to a large and eerie tower, and Mahito’s father works as a manager at a munitions factory, producing airplanes to counter the enemy aircraft that killed Mahito’s mother. Interestingly, he ends up storing the outer shells of these airplanes on the estate. It is worth noting that Miyazaki’s own father was also a munitions manager. Perhaps the director draws inspiration from his own experiences?
Mahito, who is already struggling to comprehend the events unfolding before him, is further burdened when his stepmother/aunt Natsuko (played by Yoshino Kimura, voiced by Gemma Chan in the English version) reveals she is expecting a child. This adds a surreal and unsettling element as it feels like his mother’s presence has been recreated in an unsettling manner. Despite his inner turmoil, Mahito remains obedient to his father and never questions his decisions. However, things take a strange turn when a strange talking heron enters his life. Natsuko goes missing and Mahito embarks on a journey to find her in a parallel universe, accessible through a tower.
This universe is filled with a variety of strange and amazing creatures, which may seem familiar to fans of Miyazaki’s work. However, it is only when the story comes to an end and settles in one’s mind that its true power is revealed. The vast and surreal world is a manifestation of Mahito’s emotional turmoil, potentially imagined by him. However, trying to rationalize this aspect goes against the spirit of the film. The Boy and the Heron is a valuable addition to this filmmaker’s unique body of work, exploring themes of facing overwhelming sadness and discovering joy and wonder in its place.
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Source: theguardian.com
