The Wind Rises (PG)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
In cinemas now
FAREWELL dear director. Studio Ghibli’s anime savante Hayao Miyazaki has put away his brushes and pencils for the last time.
Miyazaki has left the totality of his whimsy and splendour on the film reel with his final motion picture – a story of love, dedication and passion called The Wind Rises.
Yes, yes it’s not your everyday film, but as a two-hour visual masterpiece it is worth dipping your toes in even if you’ve never loved anime or animation before.
Miyazaki’s love of the aeronautical continued in his cinematic coup de gras.
Similar to Nausicaa and Porco Rosso in the Studio Ghibli stable, Miyazaki has taken to the skies once again – using the short-sighted but brilliantly imaginative Jiro to set the final scene in his journey as a phenomenal auteur.
The story of an aircraft engineer falling in love doesn’t seem captivating on first glance.
The brilliance of the film comes through its nuance and subtlety and amazingly in-depth visuals as Jiro dreams about designing his fighter plane masterpiece in wartime Japan.
Everything the protagonist experiences seems a wonderful metaphor for Miyazaki throughout the decades – a genius tinkering away year after year until perfection is finally met and is brought to life when it matters most.
It was fittingly nominated for an Oscar in the Best Animated Feature category and would have won had the magnificent Frozen not been released in the same window.
The Wind Rises will show at the Cameo Cinemas in Belgrave from 20 March and is currently showing at Cinema Nova in Carlton but it won’t be out forever at the cinemas – as these sort of films never prosper at the Australian box office.
If you’ve loved his prior works – My Neighbour Totoro or the wildly successful Spirited Away – or are curious for a film a little bit outside your usual viewing comforts, do yourself a favour and get out to see Miyazaki’s last and arguably one of his best.
– Jarrod Potter
