December 20, 2023 – I couldn't make much sense of this film, which seems to be caught between two worlds, both of which are divorced from reality. I don't think this is one of Hayao Miyazaki's best films. I like some of them a lot more than this one.

While there are certain elements of the film that relate to the early life of Hayao Miyazaki, who remembers the World War II bombing of Japan, some of it seems to be related to some kind of Japanese folklore and beliefs in an afterlife that I am unfamiliar with. Part of my problem might also be related to the translation of this Japanese film into English. At any rate, I had trouble divining the motivations of some of the characters.

Hisako, the mother of a young boy, Mahito Maki, is killed by Americans fire bombing Tokyo during WWII. Mahito and his father, Shoichi both run to the burning hospital to try to save her, but are unable to get to her. Mahito and his father, who is a weapons manufacturer, move to a safer place in the country to get away from the bombing. Shoichi marries Hisako's younger sister, Natsuko, but Mahito is indifferent to her.

Mahito gets beat up by some boys and school. On the way home Mahito injures himself by hitting himself in the head with a rock for some reason. Later, Natsuko, who is pregnant, wanders off by herself and disappears for some reason. A magical birdman (part man part Heron) appears to Mahito for some reason and tells him he can lead him to his dead mother.

Mahito and the birdman set off to find Natsuko through a kind of magic castle. Not much more is said about Mahito's birth mother, Hisako, even though she does show up as promised in this strange world that Mahito and the birdman have entered. There should be an emotional scene where Mahito and and the dead-alive Hisako first encounter each other, but there isn't. They hardly acknowledge each other at all, for some reason.

Mahito is a stranger in a strange world that seems to exist beyond life and death, populated the spirits of the dead, and those yet to be born, along with powerful, sentient rocks, giant, cannibalistic parakeets and hungry, unhappy giant pelicans. Mahito eventually is able to locate Natsuko with the aid of the birdman and Himi, a fire spirit.

The man behind the curtain, as it were, is a wizard who kind of runs this whole world, keeping it going by stacking and restacking carved magic rocks. The magician turns out to be a man who is said to have become crazy because he read too many books. When Mahito meets the magician, a hint is revealed for a possible reason he was summoned to this strange land.

In rapid succession, a rushed series of events comes to a head between Mahito, the Magician, Natsuko, the birdman, Himi, the king of the parakeets, and the whole wacky world where these strange creatures exist. By no means are the various conflicts resolved, but some are, and the rest rush by as whispers in the dark.

There is an idea in the movie, but not fully explored, that Mahito must choose between his new mother, Natsuko, and his first mother, Hisako. This is a choice between the past and future, fantasy and reality, life and death. Potentially, this is a very powerful idea. As presented, it is emotionally weak, because Mahito abruptly makes this decision early in the story, before it is properly developed, even before he first meets Hisako where she lives beyond death.

As usual with Miyazaki films, the art work is very colorful and imaginative. There is lots of eye candy in this movie, but I did not find this story to be compelling enough. It rates a C+.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff (no extra charges apply). I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2023 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Robert Roten can be reached via e-mail at