While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a strik...
“The Boy and the Heron” is director Hayao Miyazaki‘s first feature film in a decade, and it’s one that was worth the wait. Written by the 82-year-old Miyazaki as a semi-autobiographical, spiritual journey, the film features a wealth of creativity and imagination. The level of artistry is masterful, and the attention to detail is truly astounding. What doesn’t come together is the storytelling, which is frustrating, confusing, and lacking in structure.
Set during World War II, a young boy named Mahito (voice of Soma Santoki) suffers a family tragedy that forces him to move to the countryside where his father (voice of Takuya Kimura) works making military planes for Japan. Mahito ventures into a world that’s shared by the living and dead and aided by a majestic grey heron (voice of Masaki Suda), he explores the mysterious landscapes.
This is a soulful, somber film that plays like a dark fantasy. It’s complex in tone and composition, and Miyazaki deals with heavy themes of grief, loneliness, and fear. It’s challenging and emotionally mature, ripe with symbolism that reaches a high level of sophistication. What surprises me about the film is that while I can understand how many will find it to be powerful and touching, it failed to resonate with me on a deeper level. The film lacks the universal emotional connection that would take it to the ranks of a transformative masterpiece.
Visually speaking, the film is jaw-dropping (and I am not a fan of this style of animation). Entirely hand-drawn, the visuals have a poetic artistry that’s unparalleled. This is one of the most impressive animated films I have ever seen, and anyone who appreciates cinema as an art form will be equally blown away.
You can really tell how much this project means to Miyazaki, and it’s so highly personal that the richness both emotionally and artistically shine through. With “The Boy and the Heron,” the auteur has created a masterful fantasy built upon an intimate reflection on love, acceptance, and mourning. Beautiful both inside and out, the film delivers everything the cinematic experience is all about.
