„You’ll forget in time. You should”
Young Mahito still thinks about the fire that took his mom from him. While the world around the young boy changes rapidly, he holds onto what happened during that tragic day in Tokyo. When he moves away with his father, he slowly finds a secret world that eventually unveils a way to meet his mother one last time.
“The boy and the Heron” is the newest film by Hayao Miyazaki, a mastermind and creator of the Studio Ghibli films. We know and adore films such as “My neighbor Totoro” or “Spirited Away”. Later one even got him the Oscar as best animated feature in 2003. Now that his newest film received a golden Globe in the same category we’re sure that the Oscar Win wont be far either.
The film is based on Genzaburō Yoshinos novel “How Do You Live?” While the novel tells us a different story, Miyazaki often spoke out on how the themes of the novel inspired the Boy and the Heron. “How Do You Life” discovers spiritual growth and our experience as human beings which the film clearly looks at as well.
The Boy and the Heron is set in 1942. The war is a constantly happening in the back of the story. Yet, we always stay with Mahito, the world he discovers as well as his feelings that revolve around it. After the death of his mother he moves to a smaller village with his father. Only to discover that his aunt, the younger sister of his mother, is pregnant with his fathers child.
Things change once Mahito meets this mysterious and rather creepy talking heron. A heron that keeps on telling him that his mother is still alive. That he just needs to follow him to find the truth. Once his aunt disappears, young Mahito takes the challenge and follows the bird to a world between life and death.
While watching this, you’ll love the astounding cinematography of Miyazaki’s animation and the way the scenes in his films feel like dream sequences. It’s beautiful to look at and so hard to let go of the world we enter. Something that was truly different than his other features was the feeling of saying goodbye and the concluding feel of it all. Mahito goes through a magical journey to discover life and death and the meaning of being alive. Accepting that death is something inevitable and part of living. Knowing that this is a film Miyazaki produced and worked on during his retirement makes this feel like his very personal swan song.
As many other films of his. This one felt like it held so much meaning in what we see. I couldn’t help but research on the symbolism of the Heron that follows our protagonist through his adventures. Takigawa Hoy wrote a piece for the National Geographic in which the Heron was researched especially in Japanese Folklore. Here she writes: “Unlike its cousin the crane, which symbolizes peace, such and longevity, the meaning in the heron’s appearance is more mysterious, tied to spirits, gods, death, and a link to another world.” (Takigawa Hoy, 2023). Especially the Grey Heron as the one we see in The Boy and the Heron, is often viewed to be creepy and melancholic.
It gives its appearance and the eerie feeling to him much more meaning. In the film he remains Mahitos companion and follows him through his adventures while always remaining mischievous and mysterious.
The Boy and the Heron is a poignant exploration of life, death, and the profound journey in between. Young Mahito’s quest to reconnect with his departed mother unfolds against the backdrop of 1942, a period marked by war and change. The film stands as a testament to Miyazaki’s unparalleled ability to infuse depth and meaning into his creations. The symbolic presence of the enigmatic heron, explored through Japanese folklore, adds layers of mystery and contemplation to Mahito’s journey. What sets “The Boy and the Heron” apart from Miyazaki’s previous works is the profound sense of farewell woven into its fabric. Mahito’s magical odyssey becomes a metaphor for acceptance, acknowledging death and grieve as an integral part of life. It’s a powerful message that resonates long after the credits roll.
Miyazaki’s latest creation is a must-see for its breathtaking cinematography, rich storytelling, and the enduring resonance of its themes. The Boy and the Heron is an eloquent testament to the enduring brilliance of Studio Ghibli’s visionary storyteller.
Sources:
Selene Takigawa Hoy: “How centuries of Japanese Folklore inspired “The Boy and the Heron”: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/heron-japan-myth-folklore