Ghibli Films - May Movie Club
"When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby."
- IMDB
Totoro is honestly one of the greatest feel-good movies of all time. Of course Totoro himself is an icon and adorably designed, but the core of the story is all about the sisters. The whole family rides on positive vibes and energy. The dad does a lot to make sure the kids feel happy and comfortable given the situation. But that still doesn't stop the kids from feeling sad about missing their mom. Totoro was a friendly spirit that appeared to the kids when he was needed most and gave them the happy, magical adventure thy deserved.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆
"A twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo."
- IMDB
Now we get into the Ghibli films I haven't seen before. I never really heard of Only Yesterday until I made the list for my marathon. Watching it now I can see why it's one of their less known movies. But it's very underrated and deserves a chance. Rather than a typical Ghibli fantasy tale, it's a real coming of age story. The main character brings up a lot of nostalgia form her 5th grade year as we go back and forth between her past and present. We experience what childhood is like for a city girl in 1960s Japan as well as what expectations were for women in the 60s and 80s. The film reflects Japanese culture, society, and how important our childhoods are when it comes to becoming the people we grow up to be.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆
"A community of magical shape-shifting raccoon dogs struggle to prevent their forest home from being destroyed by urban development."
- IMDB
Buckle up, this is a weird one.... This was the deepest, most bizarre, tale of personified racoons I've ever seen. I've also never seen a movie about magical racoons. This film was definitely an experience. It focuses a lot on deforestation and nature preservation. Maybe a dash of racism given the animosity of humans by the racoons. It was a revolution tale. An odd one, but it definitely stands out. Message received. Save the trees...
My Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
"A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses."
- IMDB
I feel like fans would gravitate toward the little romance of this film, but Shizuku's coming of age tale is the heart & core of this story. She starts off as an insecure girl who is unsure if she'd be good enough and has no idea what to do with her life. Her budding romance and relationship with Seiji pushes her to create a version of herself she is more proud of and she figures out what she wants in life. It's a charming tale & is a feel-good inspiration story with a dash of romance - perfect for your your Ghibli marathon.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
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