Way back when I started this blog, I did a post of my favourite Studio Ghibli films, and I mentioned that I hadn't seen Spirited Away. I said that when I did see it, I'd review it. And I finally saw it.... two years ago. Yeah, sorry about that. Since then, I've seen it multiple times, and each time it just gets more striking, more poignant, and more masterful. Watching it again recently has really made me realise what it is that keeps drawing me back to this film. I love Spirited Away because it's one of the most satisfying journeys I've ever seen. Chihiro's arc is at the centre of this film, and watching her essentially come of age during her time in the spirit world is one of the most moving experiences I've had with cinema. So today, I want to finally talk about Spirited Away. I want to look at how this film portrays journeys, and how much they matter, in film, and kind of in general too
Chihiro's journey is almost an incidental one. Like a lot of life changing experiences, it's not something she chooses as much as something that just kind of happens. It all begins when her parents stop to inspect this mysterious arch, which of course leads them into the spirit world, where they're then turned into pigs. I think what makes this film work early on is how quickly our hero finds herself in trouble. Everything happens incredibly quickly, maybe too quick for her to realise exactly what's going on at first. Before she knows it, she's alone, in an unfamiliar world, and potentially a dangerous one. Something that I think is particularly important is that the family is moving house when they find this world, so they're already in a period of transition. Again, we don't choose the things that change our lives, we adjust and make decisions as we go, and this is something that I think is at the heart of Spirited Away. Studio Ghibli excel at putting really human issues at the heart of their films, no matter how far-fetched they might seem. When Chihiro ends up alone in a world of witches, beasts and giant ducks, she's already at a confusing time, but it's this overwhelming oddness that really gets her arc going
Pretty soon, she quite literally has her identity taken away from her, and again, this is what makes her journey work. You can read this film in a lot of ways, but I always see it as a film about growing up and choosing the person you want to be. After she becomes Sen, the person she was is gone, and whether she realises it or not, every decision she makes after that is going to determine who she's going to become. There's something quite sad about the things we leave behind. Sen doesn't just let go of her name, but everything that's attached to that too. Every memory, every experience, everything that she used to be is cleared away to make way for something else, something potentially even greater than what she was before
This is scary, but it's also exciting, and that's a balance that this film really knows how to strike. Sen encounters so many things that are unusual or dangerous, but the more she navigates this world, the more assertive she becomes, until, ultimately, she comes out of her journey a stronger person. I think Sen herself is a fascinating character, because, although she's completely out of her depth, her ability to persevere with such kindness and patience ultimately makes her a hero. The generosity she extends to No-Face is what leads him to eventually join her on her quest, and the fact that she can do so much with simple perseverance and kindness is just so powerful in itself. As I said before, I think this film is really good at emulating a life changing experience, portraying it as something that we often have no say in and have to navigate as we go. I think this helps her journey resonate as much as it does, because we understand that not only is she making sense of this world, she's growing too. She doesn't become strong by magic or through some wish. She learns how the world works, before gradually working her way through it, earning the respect of the people around her and eventually growing up in the process
I think that's why journeys mean so much, in films and in general. Onscreen, watching a character move from point to point, growing all the while is such a satisfying thing, and it resonates more because we've all been through something similar offscreen. I think this movie matters because even though it's crazy, uber specific and intricately detailed, it's also hugely universal. Anyone can watch it and recognise it. Yes it's largely a coming of age film, but like any good cinematic journey, there's real world overlap too, enough for anyone to feel exactly what the character is feeling. For all of its wild visuals and surreal antics, the most powerful scene in the film is where Sen, No-Face and their companions sit on the train in complete silence. I think this scene works because without a single word, Miyazaki conveys exactly how she's feeling. Because we've all been there. It's a quiet moment to reflect in a busy, confusing time, and it's where everything that Sen's feeling is processed, discussed and resolved, and I think it's so powerful because it doesn't have dialogue. It's the moment she meditates on everything that's happened and how it's changed her, and I'd even argue that it's the moment she comes of age, realising what's important and becoming aware that she's on a journey. She doesn't quite know the exact destination, but for the first time maybe ever, she's ready to face whatever comes her way, with little fear. The film suggests that when we're ready for something, we just know. It's not a process, it's all in the moment. Over the course of her journey, she loses a lot, and leaves a lot behind, but in the end, she's gained even more. I think Spirited Away matters so much because it understands why the journeys we take matter, and how they're structured. Miyazaki knows how quickly life changing experiences can happen, and he knows how to strike that perfect balance of fear and wonder. And you know what? That's such a special thing
"A new home and a new school? It's a bit scary"
"I think I can handle it"
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