The Boy & the Heron (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
82 yr. old famed Japanese animation master, Hayao Miyazaki, has created some of my favorite offerings of the genre; namely, 2002's majestic, Spirited Away. Now, back out of retirement, Miyakazki has given us yet another of his wondrous masterworks with 'The Boy and the Heron'. This film addresses the understanding that comes from coming-of-age and the everlasting bond btwn. a mother & son. As is usually the case with Miyazaki, the main character is a child. The setting is split btwn. WWII Japan and another world that resembles our own (which inhabits talking animals, wizards & magical, floating pre-birth souls referred to as Warawaras.
The story opens in 1943, with bombs are raining down on an unsuspecting Tokyo. Mahito Maki (Luca Padovan, for this English dubbed version), our 12 yr. old protagonist, tragically loses his mother in a local hospital fire. His widowed father, Shoichi (Christian Bale), a factory magnate, marries his late wife's younger sister, Natsuko (Gemma Chan), & relocates to her sprawling countryside estate. Also living there are 7 old maids who gossip & frets about their younger masters. Mahito finds himself the direct target of a bothersome grey heron (Robert Pattinson, sounding nothing like himself), whose existence grows increasingly threatening. Mahito's surveying of the nearby woods uncovers a sealed-off tower with a mysterious history.
Meanwhile, Mahito is having trouble adjusting to his new school and, after a fight with some bullies, he injures gravely himself; pretending that the bloody head wound was caused by a trip-&-fall. Now recovering at home, Mahito tries developing a closer relationship with his 'new mother', who is now bedridden with pregnancy morning sickness. But the grey heron preoccupies nearly all of Mahito's attention. From this point on, the narrative goes full-on Miyazaki, which means that it enters a magical, fantastical otherworld that is inhabited by strange creatures, both familiar & ghastly. The goal of entering this otherworld? To find where his 'new mother' has vanished to; and to see if visions of his deceased mother mean anything substantial.
There, Mahito finds that the grey heron turns out to be a make-shift costume worn by a debased, twisted old man. Also there is a powerful warlock (Mark Hamill) and a devoted, seafaring young version of one of the 7 old maids who aids Mahito on his mercurial journey. Mahito, initially willful & grief-stricken, experiences his own maturation as he forms a tenuous bond with the grey heron & with a young girl named Himi (Karen Fukuhara), who has a poignant connection to Mahito's recent past.
This is my favorite Miyazaki film since Spirited Away; so that's saying a lot. 'The Boy & the Heron' is all about Mahito's healing from sorrow + his growth as a young person moving forward in life -- strong themes, right there. This movie's animation is as pristine as anything Miyazaki has provided over his long & admired career. The watercolor backdrops are stunning and, the attention to detail is what differentiates it from the animation of other studios. Visually, there is a plethora of infinitesimal things that each character does to give them life {I'm reminded of the way Mahito kicks-off his shoes early in the film; may seem like a throwaway character trait, but you just don't see that kind of real-life action much in animation}.
Miyazaki may or may not be retiring. If he does, then I can say that he 'goes out on top' with this swansong masterwork. And if he isn't retiring, then that is all the better; for we may hopefully get another dollop of his visual genius in some future project. Regardless, 'The Boy and the Heron' is a precious gift for fans old, young, & new to cherish.
The story opens in 1943, with bombs are raining down on an unsuspecting Tokyo. Mahito Maki (Luca Padovan, for this English dubbed version), our 12 yr. old protagonist, tragically loses his mother in a local hospital fire. His widowed father, Shoichi (Christian Bale), a factory magnate, marries his late wife's younger sister, Natsuko (Gemma Chan), & relocates to her sprawling countryside estate. Also living there are 7 old maids who gossip & frets about their younger masters. Mahito finds himself the direct target of a bothersome grey heron (Robert Pattinson, sounding nothing like himself), whose existence grows increasingly threatening. Mahito's surveying of the nearby woods uncovers a sealed-off tower with a mysterious history.
Meanwhile, Mahito is having trouble adjusting to his new school and, after a fight with some bullies, he injures gravely himself; pretending that the bloody head wound was caused by a trip-&-fall. Now recovering at home, Mahito tries developing a closer relationship with his 'new mother', who is now bedridden with pregnancy morning sickness. But the grey heron preoccupies nearly all of Mahito's attention. From this point on, the narrative goes full-on Miyazaki, which means that it enters a magical, fantastical otherworld that is inhabited by strange creatures, both familiar & ghastly. The goal of entering this otherworld? To find where his 'new mother' has vanished to; and to see if visions of his deceased mother mean anything substantial.
There, Mahito finds that the grey heron turns out to be a make-shift costume worn by a debased, twisted old man. Also there is a powerful warlock (Mark Hamill) and a devoted, seafaring young version of one of the 7 old maids who aids Mahito on his mercurial journey. Mahito, initially willful & grief-stricken, experiences his own maturation as he forms a tenuous bond with the grey heron & with a young girl named Himi (Karen Fukuhara), who has a poignant connection to Mahito's recent past.
This is my favorite Miyazaki film since Spirited Away; so that's saying a lot. 'The Boy & the Heron' is all about Mahito's healing from sorrow + his growth as a young person moving forward in life -- strong themes, right there. This movie's animation is as pristine as anything Miyazaki has provided over his long & admired career. The watercolor backdrops are stunning and, the attention to detail is what differentiates it from the animation of other studios. Visually, there is a plethora of infinitesimal things that each character does to give them life {I'm reminded of the way Mahito kicks-off his shoes early in the film; may seem like a throwaway character trait, but you just don't see that kind of real-life action much in animation}.
Miyazaki may or may not be retiring. If he does, then I can say that he 'goes out on top' with this swansong masterwork. And if he isn't retiring, then that is all the better; for we may hopefully get another dollop of his visual genius in some future project. Regardless, 'The Boy and the Heron' is a precious gift for fans old, young, & new to cherish.