Princess Mononoke

Mononoke-hime

Hayao Miyazaki

Japan

1997 Animation 2h13

OV with French subtitles

15th century Japan. Once protected by giant animals, the forest is being depopulated by man. Wounded by a boar driven mad by demons, the young warrior Ashitaka leaves his family and sets off in search of the deer god, who alone can undo the spell that is threatening his arm.

Scenario : Hayao Miyazaki
Cinematography : Atsushi Okui
Sound : Kazuhiro Wakabayashi
Editing : Hayao Miyazaki, Takeshi Seyama

Production : Studio Ghibli
Distribution : Wild Bunch

A great epic, Mononoke-hime (Princess Mononoke) is part picaresque tale, part coming of age story and part political fable, with Miyazaki alternating battle sequences, fight scenes and more intimate moments with genuine narrative mastery. As the film unfolds, it becomes clear that Miyazaki’s treatment of situations and characters is far less manichean than Disney’s (to put it mildly): the film’s central conflict pits the forest dwellers (hardcore ecologists) against the village of blacksmiths, who need wood and trees to carry on their trade. The hero, Ashikata, like a Renoir character, alternately takes one side or the other, concerned with protecting the forest and appeasing the gods, but also understanding the vital interests of the blacksmiths, in a vision that could reconcile man, nature and heaven. (Serge Kaganski, Vincent Ostria; Les Inrocks)�