Miyazaki: A True Artist

Rating: 8/10 (14 March 2013)

Nearly all of Miyazaki's works rest in the 'Must watch' category for everyone. He is a true artist who manages to engage his viewers to the screen at all times with another beautifully made movie, Princess Mononoke.
Princess Mononoke reflects on the conflict among men, and between man and nature. Cursed by a demon, Ashitaka wanders the forest to search for the cause of his distress and the spirit of the forest for a cure to the curse. There he finds San, who is the daughter of the wolves, bears deep resentment against humans and has vowed to protect the forest at any cost. The other prominent character is Lady Eboshi, who has helped brothel workers and lepers earn a job in her iron town. The movie then proceeds to showcase the events that take place when the paths of the characters cross.
There are certain elements in Miyazaki's works that are always accentuated. Lady Eboshi is yet another strong female character. She creates employment for the unemployed and is pragmatic in her approach. She is not daunted by the task in hand till the very last and rejects the help of others as she is confident of herself and her people. In Ashitaka, we see the hero willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. It is his valiant efforts that manage to create some sort of a trust between combative parties. He acts like a mediator between the two warring factions. The analogy of damaged nature with troubled spirits, as seen later in Spirited Away as well, helps understand the plight of nature. The theme of man against nature manifests itself in the form the Iron town's gain of resources at the cost of the forest's well being.
Overall, it is yet another liberal and refreshing work from Miyazaki that everyone should watch, preferably when young. The hope that remains is if we could all emulate the virtues of the characters and reject the basic human notions of greed and hatred, our World will become a better place to live in.