Directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron(Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka) is a poignant work that blends adventure, drama and animation in a universe imbued with magic and symbolism. The film marks the grand return of the master of Japanese animation after a long absence, with a deeply personal and universal story.
We follow Mahito, an 11-year-old boy faced with the loss of his mother and a forced move to the countryside. In the old family manor, he meets a mysterious grey heron who becomes his guide and takes him on a journey of initiation. Through strange encounters and fascinating discoveries, Mahito explores the questions of life, mourning and his own destiny.
Le Garçon et le Héron will be available on Netflix from February 1, 2025.
Synopsis: After his mother disappears in a fire, Mahito, an 11-year-old boy, has to leave Tokyo to live in the countryside in the village where she grew up. He settles with his father in an old manor house on a huge estate, where he meets a grey heron who gradually becomes his guide and helps him, as he discovers and questions, to understand the world around him and unravel the mysteries of life.
Le Garçon et le Héron (The Boy and the Heron ) is aimed at a wide audience, aged 10 and over, who appreciate poetic animation and emotionally rich initiation stories. Fans of the world of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli will find here themes dear to the director, such as nature, the passage to adulthood and the quest for meaning.
With its blend of dreamlike adventure and existential reflection, this film will also appeal to viewers looking for a visually stunning and narratively profound work. Those who enjoyed masterpieces such as The Voyage of Chihiro, My Neighbor Totoro or The Moving Castle will find Miyazaki's unique, timeless touch in this production.
However, due to its melancholy themes and contemplative pace, it may be less suitable for young children or viewers preferring lighter tales.
Released in cinemas in November 2023, The Boy and the Heron has been hailed for its sumptuous animation and introspective narrative. Based loosely on the novel Et vous, comment vivrez-vous? by Genzaburō Yoshino, the film transcends the original work, offering a unique vision tinged with Miyazaki's own sensibility. The film also marks a milestone in the director's career, considered by many to be his farewell work.
With The Boy and the Heron, Hayao Miyazaki delivers another poetic fable about grief, resilience and the quest for meaning. Part initiation adventure, part philosophical reflection, this film is a must-see for animation fans and fans of Studio Ghibli.
Our verdict
Expected like the messiah by all fans of the master of Japanese animation - including ourselves - The Boy and the Heron gets off to a flying start. In a heart-rending introductory scene involving a hospital fire, Miyazaki shows that he has lost none of his talent. The character designs remind us of the heroes of our childhood, the animation is sumptuous and the emotions are high. But very quickly, the soufflé falls.
The incredible incipit is quickly set aside to take place in the Japanese countryside, where Mahito, a young boy of eleven, moves in with his father after the death of his mother. In this mysterious manor house, he meets a grey heron who gradually becomes his guide, helping him as he discovers and questions to understand the world around him and unravel the mysteries of life.
And while this dreamlike fantasy about mourning is lovely to look at, it's a bore to watch. Miyazaki may have worked for years on this film (and technically, it shows), but he struggles to renew his device, and Le Garçon et le Héron evokes a cross between Le Voyage de Chihiro and Le Château Ambulant, two of his greatest successes, but never reaches their grandeur. In this new feature, the filmmaker never seems to know where his story is heading, taking so much time to explore every nook and cranny of the universe he depicts. The result is a long, drawn-out film in every act, which would have deserved a tighter narrative. Le Garçon et le Héron lasts just over two hours, but that's far too long for what the filmmaker had to tell, especially as the repetition with his previous work is all too visible. The disappointment is as great as the expectations this film aroused.
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