Imagine Nikkei Village Cinema presents
The Boy and the Heron
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli (2023), PG-13
Saturday, July 26, 4 to 7 pm
J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville
Imagine a space to come to with family and friends. Watch a movie, join a conversation, and participate in a hands-on activity with people of all ages – children, youth, adults, elders. We invite you to be a part of Imagine Nikkei Village Cinema, a new intergenerational mix at J-Sei.
Our first program will feature, The Boy and the Heron (Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka, “How Do You Live?), is written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, produced by Studio Ghibli. A boy named Mahito Maki moves to the countryside after his mother’s death during WWII, discovers an abandoned tower near his new home, and enters a fantastical world with a talking grey heron. Winner of the Best Animated Feature Film at the Academy of Awards, the BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards and the Japanese Film Academy.
This program is supported by K/T Foundation.
SUMMARY
From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) comes a new critically-acclaimed fantasy adventure. After losing his mother during the war, young Mahito moves to his family’s estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito’s new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower, and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his guide, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world, and the truth about himself.
THEMES
The Boy and the Heron has autobiographical features. The protagonist, Mahito Maki, mirrors Miyazaki’s childhood. Miyazaki’s father, like Mahito’s father, was employed by a company involved in the manufacturing of fighter plane components. Additionally, Miyazaki’s family had to evacuate from the city to the countryside during the war. The hospital fire at the beginning of the film evokes personal parallels with Miyazaki’s loss of his mother, who was known for her strong opinions and is believed to have been a source of inspiration for several of the director’s female characters. Mahito’s emotional connection with his mother parallels Miyazaki’s love for his mother.