The Wind Rises (Hayao Miyazaki, 2013): Japan

Reviewed by Iku Sato.  Viewed at AFI Film fest 2013.

The Wind Rises was made by Hayao Miyazaki in Japan. This film is story of Jiro who was aeronautical engineer and many audience didn’t know him but he is an actual person. He spent in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Germany. This film has love story between Jiro and Naoko but it’s a original story. Studio Ghibli is a film company of Hayao Miyazaki and they made so many beautiful animations like Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. I felt their movies for children but The Wind Rises is difficult for children. Hayao Miyazaki has some film which has an theme of military affairs but he always include a message in the film to oppose war and weapons. His films has a big message and if you notice them you can enjoy this film more and more. This film’s voice actors are not professional and if you can understand them their act was not good but this story was so amazing story. If I mark this movie, The Wind Rises is 83 / 100 points.

Before Hayao Miyazaki make this movie he announced that he retire from film works and The Wing Rises is a final film for him.