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Plot
The future that we are in is unknown. The 'Seven Days of Fire' War has decimated the population and ravaged the biosphere, leaving the Earth in ruins. When a plane from the latter kingdom crashes into the Valley of the Wind carrying a hazardous cargo, the young Nausicaa, the daughter of the chief of the Valley of the Wind, realizes that the survival of her community and of all of humanity is now in grave danger. She finds herself in the middle of a war between the two neighboring kingdoms of Pejite and Tolmekia.
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Why you should watch it?
I want to start my review with a consideration: of all the topics that are covered in this wonderful masterpiece, I would like to highlight one in particular that is very close to my heart.
The source of any conflict, according to Miyazaki, is represented by our inability to comprehend the unfamiliar and our fear of the unfamiliar: the conflict between men, which is depicted in the movie as the cause of sorrow and misfortune, is juxtaposed with the resulting conflict between man and nature, which is more obvious in its identification of the aggressor and the victim, but is just as destructive for both parties. The painful but necessary attempt to resolve both conflicts, one that considers respect and understanding as primary requirements, is at the center of the entire narrative. This is for me such an important message and I discuss more in the detail in the conclusions of my review the impact that this movie can have in our society.
Hayao Miyazaki (who was forty years old at the time) pursued a project called Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind that underwent numerous direction (and media) changes throughout its development before becoming first a manga and then a film animation. This is a work that, while still not very well known to the younger generations, has inspired the imaginations of fans who are now over 30 and provided topics and ideas for a lot of Japanese fantasy and other genres.
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For instance, many of the typical motifs of the classic Final Fantasy saga derive from the Miyazaka imagery of Nausicaä, beginning with the figure of the female protagonist, determined but at the same time sweet and maternal, who fights against abuse and for the preservation of life, passing through the Chocobo and the characteristic musical accompaniment.
The anime adaptation of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind simplifies many of the manga's scenarios, which at the time were still unfinished and only in their second volume, but this does not render the film meaningless; on the contrary, it enchants the viewer with a world full of -often lethal- wonders that only need to be understood, rather than fought against.
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The film's visual style is a successful and well-balanced fusion of post-apocalyptic ideas (well represented by the deserted villages that have succumbed to spores), futuristic themes (the airplanes, the legacy of a largely forgotten technology), and a fantasy-medieval vision, which is apparent in the appearance of the Valley of the Wind and the kingdom of Pejite. The cyberpunk theme, which runs throughout the movie because the destruction of the planet so many years ago was actually caused by androids acting on men's orders, also stands out strongly in the scenes depicting the "awakening" of the deadly robot that Tolmekia's rulers want to use to wipe out the jungle and its subsequent, impressive unraveling. Like in all of the director's works, the technical side is very carefully taken care of. The author's preference for spectacular flight sequences is already evident in this film and will return in two films entirely focused on the air and man's challenge to gravity, such as Laputa: Castle in the Sky (check my review here: A review of "Laputa: Castle in the Sky") and Porco Rosso (check my review here: A review of "Porco rosso"). The character design is instantly recognizable and has already established the standard. The animation is of the highest quality and is the best for the time.
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The backgrounds are also expertly designed and, by themselves, are able to recapture much of the feeling that Miyazaki intended to convey with the story—whether it be dreamy or gloomy, depending on the situation. The soundtrack, which is stirring and of the greatest caliber and was composed by Joe Hisaishi, who will now be a constant presence in the director's works, is also noteworthy.
Conclusion
This movie is a beautiful, poetic ode to ecologism and pacifism, a harsh critique of humanity's propensity for destruction and self-destruction, and a call for the respect of life in all its forms. I am a big fan of Miyazaki, especially because his films are not an end in themselves but all have messages of great social importance, and that is why I hope that as many people as possible watch them (especially the new generations who need such a model to be able to develop the civic sense that we have lost in recent years). Our planet is suffering also because of us, and at times like these, even a 'simple' film can make us think and understand how much we can all contribute to make a difference.Rating
My personal vote is:10/10
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