I have decided to try to keep a log over my activities in Japan so that my friends and family can keep track of what is going on in my life. Also it might provide an interesting introduction to Japan and its culture for people who haven´t been there. I will try to update once a week and complement the text with pictures taken with my digital camera throughout my intended year-long stay in Japan. 
Movie Reviews
Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away)
Genre: Fantasy/drama
Length: 125 min
Language: Japanese
Year: 2001
Format: Theatrical Movie
Director:  Hayao Miyazaki

On the other side of the tunnel there was a mysterious town...

This is the story of the 10-year-old girl Chihiro, who on the move to a new town with her parents comes across a tunnel leading to a deserted town. In this town she finds a huge bathhouse, and shortly afterwards darkness falls and the town changes shape. She tries to run back to the tunnel, but it's too late. The town is filled with different spirits and gods, and she starts telling herself that it can't be real, and she starts to dissolve, but a mysterious boy named Haku helps her and tells her to start working at the bath house. But whatever she does, she must not say "I don't like this" or "I want to go back". And so she starts working at the bathhouse, which turns out to be a bathhouse for tired gods and spirits, and lots of adventures and experiences await her, as well as a myriad of strange, mystical and interesting beings. There is Yubâba, the sorceress manager of the bath house; Kamajii, a grumpy but friendly spider-like old man working at the furnace below the bath house; Kaonashi (No-face), a mystical being with strange powers; and many more.

First of all, if you don't know who the director Hayao Miyazaki is than there are some things you should know. Miyazaki is by far the most celebrated anime creator in Japan, and his animation studio is named Studio Ghibli. His previous film Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke) broke the box office record of E.T. but was soon thereafter passed by Titanic. Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi broke the box office record of Titanic in a few days. That might make you understand just how big Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli is in Japan.

Both the story and the twisted characters are reminiscent of Lewis Carroll's classic book Alice in Wonderland, although there is not as much running around, and the characters in this film are the most twisted characters in any Miyazaki film yet. It might be frightening for small children at certain places.

According to Miyazaki, the film is made for 10-year-old girls. In the movie pamphlet, as well as on the official homepage, he has written that he feels that young girls today lack the will to live (freely translated by myself). Since they don't have to struggle for anything they get spoiled and bored. That is how Chihiro is in the beginning of the film, and it is the reason why she looks the way she does: she is very thin but has a round face. The reason for the round face is that when Japanese girls are sulking, they make their cheeks big. And the adventure is really all about her finding something to struggle for, and fight for it to the end. Another thing he makes a point of is the power of words. As Chihiro starts working at the bath house, her surname and half of her first name is removed by Yubâba, leaving only a kanji which is pronounced Sen. Miyazaki writes that he feels that young people of today are too careless with words, lacking respect for the power words have. The reason Yubâba, robs Chihiro of her name is not to create a simple calling-name, but to get full control of her.

As with most of Miyazaki's films there are thoughts and meanings behind everything, but this film is the most extremely reference packed one so far. You can compare it to fellow Studio Ghibli director Isao Takahata's film Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko on that point. Every little detail (and there are many details) has a specific meaning. This is one of the things that make this film so great. It is not an epic adventure like most of his earlier films, and there is little violence, but there are plenty of thought-provoking and meaningful details, which I don't think many 10-year-old girls will understand or even notice, but will catch the interest of many adults. I really wanted to find out the meanings behind characters, names and scenes that I hadn't fully understood, right after seeing the film. After reading through the pamphlet and some books I finally understood most of it, but there are still details I don't understand. I can see why they sell so many books about it. But one of the strong points of this film, and many of Miyazaki's other films, is that you don't have to understand it all to enjoy it. You can enjoy it on many levels.

Visually the film is fantastic, as with all of Miyazaki's films. Just like in Mononoke Hime, computer graphics are used extensively. And, as in Mononoke Hime (in contrast to i.e. Metropolis), the computer graphics are made to look as ordinary cell-animation by reducing the colour depth and frame rate. If you don't have a special interest in animation technique you probably won't notice it at all, unless you look for it. The soundtrack is also fantastic as usual, with the atmospheric music of Joe Hisaishi as in most Miyazaki films. 

When Miyazaki had finished his previous film Mononoke Hime he stated that it was his last film and that he would not write and direct a full length film again, but work on smaller features. Obviously, fortunately for all Miyazaki fans, he didn't keep that promise though. He repeated that statement after this film, so this may be the last of his films. But since he has said it before, there is always hope.

I recommend this film to everyone.
Links

Official Homepage
(Japanese)

The official Spirited Away homepage.
The Hayao Miyazaki Web A Studio Ghibli fan site with all the fun and facts about the movies you could ever want.
The Hayao Miyazaki Web A page under the above site, specifically about Spirited Away, with movie-clips, links to reviews, FAQ etc.
Studio Ghibli
(Japanese)
The official Studio Ghibli homepage.

© Erik Andersson 2001