Post by klep on May 11, 2020 8:01:14 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 5/11: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
NATURE WEEK!
We've been living with and loving the works of Hayao Miyazaki for so long that it's hard to remember that there was a time when he wasn't the titanic and beloved figure in animation that he is today. But surely there must have been a time when a younger Miyazaki was new to film, and uncertain of his own abilities. Or you watch his second feature, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and think maybe there wasn't.
Nausicaä is an astonishingly assured piece of filmmaking. It has a world that feels fully realized and thought-through, with a history that informs its present in coherent ways. The animation is beautiful, giving life to this world of decay and artfully crafting the contrasts between the idyllic valley, the desert, and the lush (but deadly) insect forests.
The story is an archetypal example of some of the ideas that would dominate Miyazaki's work over the decades. Ostensibly the story is of young Nausicaä (Sumi Shimamoto) trying to keep vying powers from destroying the tranquil valley she calls home, but it's really about a deeper struggle. On one side is nature, trying to cleanse and reclaim the wastes man made of the world and on the other is humankind, greedy and hubristic, believing in their superiority even in the face of the consequences of such thinking. It's an idea he would return to most pointedly 13 years later in Princess Mononoke, but even this early it's expertly presented and integrated into the plot.
Miyazaki tells the story with a great sense of drama and tragedy, never being afraid to shy away from a heartbreaking twist or cruel reversal just to spare the viewer. The initial Tolmekian invasion of the valley is as swift and brutal as it is complete; a lesser film might have turned Nausicaä's heroic rush to her father's defense as the start of some brave resistance, but Miyazaki knows that's not how these things work. The film never feels cruel for cruelty's sake, but it doesn't relent in showing the consequences of humanity's avarice and smug superiority. It takes time for levity, beauty, and joy because life is rarely ever only one thing, but you never forget the crisis at hand. And when matters come to a head it feels like salvation can't possibly come until it finally, improbably does. It's a film that deftly alternates between moments of peaceful serenity and a crushing sense of impending doom and despair without ever feeling dissonant.
Of course, it probably helps that Miyazaki had great source material to draw on. The Nausicaä manga started being published two years earlier and swiftly became the most popular title in Animage magazine. It's hard to imagine the film adaptation being so strong without such masterful creative work in its source material so it's a good thing Miyazaki was able to consult so frequently with its author *checks notes* Hayao Miyazaki.
Obviously we're all aware today of Miyazaki's unparalleled mastery in his craft, but it's so remarkable to look back this early in his career and see how quickly he was able to demonstrate that mastery. Creating such a great film so early in one's career isn't guaranteed even for other titans of cinema; Kubrick's second feature was Killer's Kiss, and Hitchcock's was The Golden Eagle. But Miyazaki did it, and despite his best efforts has never stopped since.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 5/18: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
HANGOUT WEEK!
For Hangout Week we'll be watching Louis Buñuel’s class satire The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, in which a group of upper class people attempt to eat dinner together. Join us next week for our discussion of this exercise in puncturing the entitled sensibilities of the well-to-do. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is available on Prime Video and the Criterion Channel, and for rent on Google and YouTube.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 5/12: The Assistant
Kitty Green's new feature about a young woman serving as the PA for an executive who grows increasingly aware of her boss' abusive behavior. Come join our discussion on Wednesday of The Assistant, available for rent in the usual places.
NATURE WEEK!
We've been living with and loving the works of Hayao Miyazaki for so long that it's hard to remember that there was a time when he wasn't the titanic and beloved figure in animation that he is today. But surely there must have been a time when a younger Miyazaki was new to film, and uncertain of his own abilities. Or you watch his second feature, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and think maybe there wasn't.
Nausicaä is an astonishingly assured piece of filmmaking. It has a world that feels fully realized and thought-through, with a history that informs its present in coherent ways. The animation is beautiful, giving life to this world of decay and artfully crafting the contrasts between the idyllic valley, the desert, and the lush (but deadly) insect forests.
The story is an archetypal example of some of the ideas that would dominate Miyazaki's work over the decades. Ostensibly the story is of young Nausicaä (Sumi Shimamoto) trying to keep vying powers from destroying the tranquil valley she calls home, but it's really about a deeper struggle. On one side is nature, trying to cleanse and reclaim the wastes man made of the world and on the other is humankind, greedy and hubristic, believing in their superiority even in the face of the consequences of such thinking. It's an idea he would return to most pointedly 13 years later in Princess Mononoke, but even this early it's expertly presented and integrated into the plot.
Miyazaki tells the story with a great sense of drama and tragedy, never being afraid to shy away from a heartbreaking twist or cruel reversal just to spare the viewer. The initial Tolmekian invasion of the valley is as swift and brutal as it is complete; a lesser film might have turned Nausicaä's heroic rush to her father's defense as the start of some brave resistance, but Miyazaki knows that's not how these things work. The film never feels cruel for cruelty's sake, but it doesn't relent in showing the consequences of humanity's avarice and smug superiority. It takes time for levity, beauty, and joy because life is rarely ever only one thing, but you never forget the crisis at hand. And when matters come to a head it feels like salvation can't possibly come until it finally, improbably does. It's a film that deftly alternates between moments of peaceful serenity and a crushing sense of impending doom and despair without ever feeling dissonant.
Of course, it probably helps that Miyazaki had great source material to draw on. The Nausicaä manga started being published two years earlier and swiftly became the most popular title in Animage magazine. It's hard to imagine the film adaptation being so strong without such masterful creative work in its source material so it's a good thing Miyazaki was able to consult so frequently with its author *checks notes* Hayao Miyazaki.
Obviously we're all aware today of Miyazaki's unparalleled mastery in his craft, but it's so remarkable to look back this early in his career and see how quickly he was able to demonstrate that mastery. Creating such a great film so early in one's career isn't guaranteed even for other titans of cinema; Kubrick's second feature was Killer's Kiss, and Hitchcock's was The Golden Eagle. But Miyazaki did it, and despite his best efforts has never stopped since.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 5/18: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
HANGOUT WEEK!
For Hangout Week we'll be watching Louis Buñuel’s class satire The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, in which a group of upper class people attempt to eat dinner together. Join us next week for our discussion of this exercise in puncturing the entitled sensibilities of the well-to-do. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is available on Prime Video and the Criterion Channel, and for rent on Google and YouTube.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 5/12: The Assistant
Kitty Green's new feature about a young woman serving as the PA for an executive who grows increasingly aware of her boss' abusive behavior. Come join our discussion on Wednesday of The Assistant, available for rent in the usual places.