I've always had a special feeling towards Miyazaki's films and, more broadly, Studio Ghibli films. Having discovered them at a very young age, it's like coming back to a classic; they have something comforting about them. Being an animation enthusiast, I was already aware of the production of a new film by the master of Japanese animation based on the novel of the same name written by Genzaburô Yoshino. I was already somewhat interested in his life at the time, and just by seeing the title of the film, I began to grasp where Miyazaki wanted to take us. And I wasn't disappointed.
Miyazaki had already tackled themes that were more than complex to depict in an animated film, such as war, love, and environmental stewardship, among others. In his last film released a decade earlier, "Kaze Tachinu", he attempted to explore much more mature themes than usual. It is only natural, then, that he continues down this path, especially for the release of a film that is marketed as his swan song.
Once seated in front of the screen, we find ourselves, as usual for a Ghibli film, in a world teeming with details. In a world where most studios embrace digital methods, Miyazaki, as always true to himself, predominantly employs analog techniques, which lend their charm to the films he creates, and 'How Do You Live?' is not an exception. The film takes its time, giving attention to seemingly unimportant details, and we marvel at the facial expressions of the characters, which, as always, are depicted with great richness. The world depicted is neither good nor bad, this nuanced tone present in every film by the director is taken to the extreme in this movie where there is no real antagonist or hero. Only Mahito, who tries to live in the way he chooses and to accept the death of his mother."
As is often the case in Miyazaki's films, we find the strong female character embodied by Kiriko, but more broadly, it's the maternal figure that is constantly brought to our attention throughout the film. Mahito seeks this maternal figure and the love he has lost in each of the female personalities we encounter. I can't help but draw a parallel between the main character and Miyazaki himself.
But 'How Do You Live?' is above all a film depicting the profound nature of humanity and prompts reflection on how we live and perceive the world. From Miyazaki's perspective, the film is almost autobiographical and is certainly the one where he shares his most personal thoughts. Hayao Miyazaki poses a simple question to us here: How do you live? Carrying a message of hope for today's youth. What kind of world will you build? An unstable tower or a tower with strong foundations where peace and harmony reigns.
How do you want to live as a human being?
How do you live?
