Art Imitating Life

Rating: 8/10 (6 June 2007)

This movie was a terrific anime style film that shared the story of one girl's journey through a mystical land full of spirits and magic on one level and on another level discussed the issue of tradition and modernity in Japan. The film was cleverly titled Spirited Away, and presents every aspect of the film as a symbol which correlates with the prevalent issues that are present in today's society and more centrally in Japan. Some of the issues that were presented to the audience were consumption, population, and tradition. It was very interesting that the film's director chose to present these issues through a medium that an unsuspecting audience would merely see a children's film with a child-like plot but as someone who is more familiar with Japanese culture I was able to recognize the hints towards the religious presence of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. I especially liked the fact that the little girl, Chihiro, who represented the heroine of the story was put into situations that she had no control of a from mother who showed next to no affection to traveling through a spirit world where she is responsible for restoring the order that the world once contained. I appreciate the many levels of the film and I realize that the movie would probably have seemed immature to me had I not been aware of what is happening in Japan.