It is a Japanese animated fantasy film . Written & Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Produced by Studio Ghibli. The Japanese title refers to Genzaburo Yoshino’s 1937 novel ‘How Do You Live ?’ of the same name. It is not an adaptation.
Descibed as a ‘big, fantastical film’it follows a boy, Mahito Maki, who moves to the countryside after his mother’s death. He discovers an abandoned tower near his new home & enters a fantastical world with a talking grey Heron.
It was released on 14 July 2023. It is the most expensive film ever produced in Japan. It grossed US $ 294.2 million worldwide. It is the fifth highest grossing Japanese film of all times. The film has won the Best Animated Feature film at the Academy awards, the BAFTA awards, the Golden Globes & the Japanese Film Academy.
Miyazaki ‘s work has been recognized again. Gold house honored him one of the 100 most influential Asians A 100 list in 2024. He was an honoree of the Ramon Magsaysay award in 2024 for his usage of art to ‘illuminate the human condition’.
It was released on Netflix on October 7, 2024. If I say, we had been waiting for it, it will be a large understatement. Planning to watch every film of his, this mega hit was a must.
Beautiful animation as always.
Asian Entertainment 