The Boy and the Heron Review – Dreamy and Disjointed
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Even though the teaser for Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron” was extremely cryptic, a deliberate ploy to keep viewers intrigued, the glimpses offered held out a promise for an emotional tour de force. The fantasy film follows the adventures of Mahito, a school-going boy who leaves Tokyo with his father to live with his new stepmother Natsuko at her ancestral property, which is home to several bizarre happenings. A nosy grey heron promises to lead him to his mother, claiming she is alive, and even though Mahito doesn’t trust the bird, he embarks on a magical journey to an alternate world inhabited by strange creatures, including the living and the dead.
“The Boy and the Heron” (Original title: Kimitachi wa dô ikiru ka) starts with the ominous sounds of sirens, Mahito recalls how a raging blaze at a hospital claimed his mother’s life. The scene sets the tone for the primary theme of the tale – Mahito’s grief over the loss, his inability to move on and accept another woman into the family.
The animation by Studio Ghibli is stunning, I couldn’t take my eyes off the screens despite the slow-pace of the film, the slower moments let you savor the colors, details of the often dreamy backgrounds in “The Boy and the Heron”. From the gorgeously green countryside where Mahito moves in, to the expansive other-world realm he enters through an ancient, forlorn mansion, every second frame is a visual treat. And the character illustrations are amusing variations of previous Ghibli characters, such as the band of old ladies who work for Mahito’s stepmom, resembling the old granny from “Spirited Away” and the older Sophie from “Howl’s Moving Castle”.
The talking grey heron is, of course, the most curious character in “The Boy and the Heron.” It’s introduced as a mysterious yet majestic-looking creature that keeps circling around Mahito’s new home. As soon as it starts talking, it transforms into something more wicked and sinister, like a disguised creature luring Mahito into danger. But eventually, it becomes an almost comical ally for the young boy who isn’t sure of his place in the world.
There’s a very “When Marnie Was Here” kind of twist in the film, and if you’ve seen that one, you should know that “The Boy and the Heron” is almost as slow-paced, but it’s definitely imbued with more spirit and fantastical elements, making it more intriguing. Besides, “The Boy and the Heron” also keeps you in anticipation of a certain high point, a poignant curtain call, or some sort of twist that I kept waiting for, but it never arrives. Sure, Mahito learns an important lesson in the otherworld, but the execution leaves you wanting, and the second half simply feels disjointed from the rest of the story.
The tone remains serious and somber for most of the 2-hour runtime, except for a running gag about an old woman who is always looking to bum a cigarette off someone. Creator Hayao Miyazaki crafts his own rules for the fantasy world Mahito tumbles into with the grey heron, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions about the place. It’s akin to a mystical underworld, serving as a bridge between the human world and a supernatural realm, with multiple portals to various parts and timelines of the world, resembling a custodian of time. Its weird distractions and curiosities give Mahito the time to heal his own wounds.
A bunch of colorful, sinister, talking parakeets get more screen time than some of the other human characters. Mahito doesn’t get to forge a strong bond with any humans he meets; there are no memorable friendships formed, and even his interactions with the Heron are merely transactional in some sense. If it weren’t for the dreamlike animation and settings, the striking ambient sounds, and a soothingly haunting background track, this could have been a tough watch. But if you liked/loved “When Marnie Was Here”, you are likely to enjoy “The Boy and the Heron” a lot more.
Rating: 7 on 10. “The Boy and the Heron” is running in Indian theaters right now.
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