December 13th
Hayao Miyazaki's newest film The Boy and the Heron is another masterpiece from him. The film in Japan is Called How do you Live? It got inspiration from a 1937 book. But the movie is it's own thing. It only shares the title of the book (the Japanese title that is).
The film is set during the Pacific War Mahito Maki's mom dies in Tokyo when the hospital she's in catches fire. When his mom retires, he has to move with them to the Countryside. The new mom then gets ill and pregnant. Mahito then has to venture into a mysterious tower to get her back. He has to team up with a talking gray heron. He meets some other characters along the way and has to save one from some parakeets.
Miyazaki stated he wanted this film done for the 2020 Olympics, but as you know, that never happened. That, and the film wasn't even finished yet.
Miyazaki also said that this would be his last film and he'll retire after its completion, but guess what? He's working on another movie! He said it after Princess Monoke and again after The Wind Rises, but, nope! I guess when inspiration hits and you come up with a last minute idea, it's hard to let it go.
I suppose it's good he's making another movie so we get to look forward to another one of his works in the future. But I also think it's time for him to retire. He is in his early eighties after all. But if he wants to do what he loves, then more power to him! It's his life. He can do what he wants!
In Japan, this movie didn't get a lot of marketing until like a week before it came out. Miyaki was worried and for good reason, but believed in the film and that it'll do well, which it did! In fact, I don't think the TV networks in America marketed it well either, but YouTube sure did! And I think it's doing well. It should. It's a Hayao Mizaki film for Pete's sake! It truly deserves to do well!
When we heard of this film and that it was by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, we instantly knew that this was something special. Nearly everything that man directs is going to be good.