Hayao Miyazaki fans have been waiting for it with bated breath. Le Garçon et le Héron, the final film from the father of Chihiro, Mononké, Totoro and many other heroes, was released in Japan on July 14 without any promotion, and arrives in France on November 1. And unlike the Japanese, we have a trailer!
The Boy and the Heron was a great success in Japan, despite its lack of promotion. This is unique in the history of Studios Ghibli. Until now, therefore, we knew nothing about this mysterious film, apart from a poster that didn't say much. But several months after its release, the film is finally unveiling itself.
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, an eleven-year-old boy, 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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