Akira Masaki [About the author]
The animated film "Spirited Away" directed by Hayao Miyazaki has been released for 20 years, but the charm of his works is enduring, occupying the Japanese box office all the year round Top of the list. It was not until the end of 2020 that the top spot was given up to "Ghost Slayer Movie: Infinite Train", which attracted attention again. It ranked fourth in the "100 Great Movies of the 21st Century" selected by the British BBC in 2016, and it still enjoys a high reputation overseas. What is the charm of its transcendence?
Spirited Away The movie was released around 2001.
To understand the story, we can first understand the context and cultural background behind the movie.
Japan experienced a bubble economy in 1986, and the economic bubble burst in 1989, causing an economic depression, and the economy began to recover gradually in 2012. In the release and production of Spirited Away, Japan has already experienced the "lost 10 years". How to survive this difficult time without getting lost? I think Spirited Away's movie is Miyazaki's Conversation between Jun and the younger generation. And through the story of the film, reconnect the important aspects and values of Japanese primitive and cultural.
"Spirited Away" will see different stories at different ages and moods.
When I first watched Spirited Away, I was probably a teenager, and what I saw was a girl's fantasy adventure into another world.
The second time I watched it, I had already entered the workplace, and watching it intermittently will bring different results. After
people start to pay attention to the prototypes of monsters and Ukiyo-e painting styles when they are middle-aged,
seems to be watching the customs and history of Japan. .
So, this is not a film that will be boring because of spoilers, but it will open up another perspective every time.
This is probably the advanced part of a classic work,
you know what it is going to tell you,
but you still want to start all over again, the more
feels materialistic around, the purer it can give you bright.
1. Chihiro 's parents did not have awe, believing that money can solve everything, but greedily devoured food, and finally turned into "pigs". This reflects the greed of the previous generation (the tout of the economic bubble), which was swallowed up by his own greed in the end (not eating to become pigs, but constantly eating to become pigs). In this generation, 10-year-old Chihiro needs to venture into the world of the gods so that he can survive and save his parents.
2. To survive in the world, you have to work. Bailong rescues Chihiro and tells her that if she wants to survive in the world of gods, she needs to get a job in the oil house. So, she exhausted all means to pray to yumba to give her work. Survive in difficult times, but still have to settle down and find a way to live with peace of mind.
3. Chihiro is saving the god of decay -- the river god, which is a reflection on environmental protection. (Most of Miyazaki's films have environmental or anti-war messages.)
4. Faceless man is actually the aspect of everyone's heart that longs to be seen, affirmed, accepted and loved. If you are not aware, you will fall into darkness and use it in the wrong way. In the movie, the faceless man shows affection in order to get Chihiro's sight and affirmation. In the end, he uses gold (wealth) to attract Chihiro, and he keeps devouring the things around him (desire), changing into different appearances (pleasant). ), but the final purpose is just to get closer to Chihiro. When the faceless man calmed down and went with Qianxun to find Granny Qian, he found a place to dedicate and settle down from the loss - to work for Granny Qian . - Of course, alsoBecause of Grandma Qian's invitation, acceptance and attention.
5. The oil house means society, most of the employees and the mother-in-law in the oil house are a metaphor for our hearts that are lost due to society - greed, excessive pursuit of wealth, because wealth loses itself. Since the faceless man turned gold and was sought after by everyone, Tang Po Po's greed for money, we know that these represent our desire for money and power in society.
6. The giant baby of Granny Tang also represents the giant baby of society depending on its parents. It's not that these giant babies don't want to grow up, they just don't have the chance to grow up. When the baby and Chihiro traveled back, they would be able to stand more stably and independently.
7. Don't forget your name, get your name back. Bai Long finally took back the name of his river god. The name here refers to our original intention, original intention, value and true self. So don't forget your purest heart when working in the oil house (society), forget that society and greed have the power to control you. And Chihiro knew from beginning to end that what she wanted was to save her parents (don't forget your own heart to save her parents).
8. Granny Qian is another aspect of our soul. If Granny Tang is about desire and loss, Granny Qian is stability, patience, wisdom and love.
9. It's not easy times, don't let yourself be alone --- Chihiro passes the test of Granny Yu, and her friends cheer for her. So although she took the risk alone, she was assisted by different people, Bai Long, boiler grandpa , Xiaoling , Qian Granny and so on.
10. Desires and Intentions and Lost and Settlements. Although Chihiro is trapped in the world of gods, she has not lost her kindness (caring for Bailong and the people around her), diligence (working hard at the oil house), ethics (returning the seal to Granny Qian and apologizing), facing the The temptation is not lost (the faceless man gives gold and shows favor).
Perhaps, Hayao Miyazaki warmly reminded in the story how to always remember his name, know who he is, how not to get lost in a lost era, connect back to the original simplicity and kindness in the culture (Japan), and cross with courage challenges of this era.
And are you lost in the "oil house"?
Some stories, which seem to be fantasy and fairy tales, actually respond to the background of the times and the heart of that country and nation.
