This week's Ghibli Film #2

I've been really worn out lately so haven't felt like watching whole films, let alone subtitled ones.  I've only had the concentration to watch programs that were less than an hour long, even though I would end up watching several in one go.  My boss was away, so I was covering him, which in realisty means a few hours of overtime but lots of extra worry and perceived responsibility.

This week he is back and although I'm still tired out from being SADded, I ran out of US sitcoms and dramas so I  watched Nausicaa of the valley of the wind on Monday and Tuesday.  It is considered to be  the film that allowed Studio Ghibli to be created and was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

I watched it in Japanese with English subtitles.  I like to think that it will help me learn to speak Japanese but I could only pick out a few words and then very rarely.  This is the only film I've ever seen with WWF stamp of approval but the environmental message isn't annoying. It has strong male and female characters and I didn't find it predictable although it has a satisfying ending.  I recommend it.

This week's Ghibli film

Some time ago, Film 4 had a Studio Ghibli season and I recorded as many as I could.  I didn't make it to the Ghibli museum on my recent trip but I realised that I've only seen Princess Mononoke and one film wouldn't really give me the best basis for enjoying a museum dedicated to decades of anime. So, I've a hard drive with some films I recognised and others I didn't for hours of enjoyable research.  First up was Only Yesterday. Wikipedia link here
ETA I've just found another interesting link here

This isn't really a film for children which surprised and reminded me that in Japan, animation isn't just aimed at children.  I suppose there is animation for adults here too, but I'd forgotten.  There isn't anything particularly unsuitable for children (although some biology is discussed that might lead to further questions) but I think they'd find it boring.  It's about an old woman like me (hahah, she's 27) thinking about what she wants in life and remembering when she was ten.  And farming.  That's all really.  I found it rather beautiful and moving in a very gentle way.