Hayao Miyazaki’s film “The Boy and the Heron” will soon be shown in Polish cinemas – a touching story about a teenager who, after the death of his mother, moves to the countryside and meets and introduces a heron who speaks with a human voice. To a magical world. Anime fans have been waiting for this production for 10 years. Looking at its reviews so far, we can safely say that it was worth it.
After a decade of hiatus, Hayao Miyazaki – Oscar and Golden Bear winner, animation master and co-founder of the famous Japanese Studio Ghibli – returns with a new film and once again does not disappoint his fans. The animated fantasy film “The Boy and the Heron” has gained wide popularity around the world – especially in Japan, where it has been hailed as a masterpiece, as well as in the United States and France. Journalists also expressed their happiness with it, including: The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, and Vogue.
The Hollywood Reporter said: “Almost every properly composed shot can be a work of art in itself.” Industry portal IndieWire ranked The Boy and the Heron as one of the most beautiful films ever made. In turn, Deadline wrote: “Miyazaki’s influence on the art of animation is unparalleled. “His return after a ten-year hiatus serves as a reminder of the unique vision and artistry he brings to the world of animation.” David Fair of Rolling Stone thinks similarly. He wrote: “ Miyazaki remains the greatest animator alive, period.”
“The Boy and the Heron” was also received positively by Polish film journalists who already had the opportunity to watch this animation during the Young Horizons Festival. Adriana Brodeus of Vogue said it was “the testimony of a master who has not yet said his last word.” Cuba Armata of Interia described this production as “delicate, poetic and above all wise and responsible”. Irina Colton of Filmawka portal in turn stated that “Miyazaki presents viewers with a mystery whose solution provides an interpretive clue to his entire legacy”, and Kamil Kalbarchik of Ekrani commented that “the master of anime returns to the land of the gods, to a world on the verge of reality and fantasy.”
“The Boy and the Heron” is a story not only about loss and transience, but also a showcase of boundless imagination. After losing his mother, Mahito and his father leave Tokyo and move to the countryside. Far from the new reality surrounding him, the boy begins to discover the unexplored area and home. One day, he accidentally meets a mysterious gray heron who speaks with a human voice and unexpectedly becomes his guide. The bird gradually helps him uncover the secret of life, and takes him to a magical world where the living and the dead live, and the past is mixed with the present. Where death ends and life finds a new beginning.
“The Boy and the Heron” is scheduled to arrive in Polish cinemas on January 19, 2024. Below we present the official Polish trailer for the film.
Source: Maud Horizonte Distriboja press materials
