Last month The Boy and the Heron won Best Animated Film at the Golden Globes. Not that I care all too much, but I figured it would give me an excuse to talk about the film. To be honest, at first, I hated it. I thought it was messy, unevenly passed, a weak score, and no emotional steaks. But then I thought about it, then thought about it some more. I found myself fixated on this movie, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Here are some quick thoughts about the film's first half, the tower, and what it all means.
What feels like a slow start, instead is a perfect representation of a depressed child. Bland shots, simple music using only a simple piano, and Mahito's own self-harm. These all are used to create a sense of helplessness, loneliness, and a boy in need of direction. The film isn't just simply telling the audience, not just showing it either, the film has embarrassed its protagonist's feelings. A boy who has lost all his innocence, believing there is nothing worth living in this world. Slowly, however, we get hints of his childish nature. Appearances of the titular Heron sparked interest and wonder in Mahito's otherwise bland and depressing life. The film explodes with life, and the score picks up to the wonderful, joyous nature we know. These moments show us Miyazaki's love of childhood innocence, shown in Totoro.
The tower is a perfect representation of Miyazaki's own works. Just like Miyazaki himself, Mahito is slowed and sucked into this weird, wonderful, and dark world. Many believed Miyazaki reused and referenced shots and moments of his older works as a fanfare. Showing them off one more time before the old master retires. But Miyazaki had another thought in mind. Reusing them to tell the audience that this new world is one we're all familiar with, it's his own. Mononoke's bow shot, the flying ship from Laputa, and Mahito climbing the tower walls echoed Chihiro's. Even the tower itself reminded me of Cagliostro Castle.
But something different, something feels different. It's aging, deteriorating, old, just like Miyazaki. Both are at the end of their lifespan. It's a world that lives many years and now it's time to move on. If Mahito is supposed to be a young Miyazaki, then I believe his uncle is his present self. A man who lived his life in the imaginary world, creating and rebuilding it. Just like Miyazaki, now both are at the end of their careers.
Hisaishi's theme for the Granduncle perfectly presents these feelings. It's a beautiful and triumphant theme, using the stings and horns to show the grandeur of his creation. And yet it's almost sad in a way, the piano used throughout the film shows the uncle's lingering hints of depression. Bringing the other instruments back down to earth, Is a beautiful yet depressing theme, yet still shows the happiness and beauty of life. Perfectly capturing how this may be the end of the grand uncle's, and Miyazaki's, time. It captures the beauty in that end. Letting the audience know it's all going to be ok.
The film is ultimately about loss, and how that affects us. In both our daily lives and in the things we create. Mahito's refusal to carry on his Granduncle's world shows Miyazaki finally giving in to his age. Accepting the end. In 10 to 15 years we're going to consider this one of the greatest films of all time, mark it in your calendars. It's such a lovingly made film, you can't just see the passion, Ghibli at its finest, you can feel it too.
I know this is a mess, it took a while too, sorry for that.
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