Chihiro's Sacrifice and Selflessness

Rating: 10/10 (29 May 2007)

At first glance Spirited Away seems to be another knockoff kid's cartoon, but actually is an adult movie that shows the corrupt modern society and its weaknesses. Hayao Miyazaki directly related the story to the problems of modernity compared to a traditional sense. The main character Chihiro is depicted as a modern girl who throughout the story captures traditional aspects in her life. Through Chihiro, Miyazaki shows the audience how the younger generation can change from a corrupt way of life, but the older generation is incapable because of there greed.
In the beginning of the movie, Chihiro is shown as a needy week little girl with arrogant parents that wouldn't even help her across a large creek. Crossing the creek changed the present day into the traditional world with a very Buddhist undertone and Daoist overview. Miyazaki represented everything in the traditional world as a symbol. The Bathhouse, were most of the action happened, symbolized purification because water meant cleansing. From the point she entered into the traditional world she had to overcome fear by herself. Overcoming fear by yourself is a very traditional idea, and throughout the movie she becomes more and more brave and self-reliant.
Chihiro was able to overcome many obstacles throughout the movie because of her selflessness and her willing to do whatever it took to get her parents back. She risks her life twice during the movie through compassion. When she pulls all the garbage out of the muddy monster that represents sickness of modernity, Miyazaki is saying that you can cure the problems of society and that you can go out and clean it up. The second time she risked her life, she cured the monster No Face by sacrificing the pill that could have cured her parents. Miyazaki is telling the audience that you can solve the illness of society through compassion and sacrifice.
I would recommend this movie to anyone that would like to see how the younger generations can save traditional ideas in the modern world. In order to understand the deeper meaning that Miyazaki was trying to portray, leave your idea of a good movie behind. Being able to see beyond the surface, and understand Miyazki's true meaning of the text will help you interpret the ending of the movie.