Princess Kaguya's Story: surprisingly pleasant work of art.

Princess Kaguya's Story: *** 1/2

Japan | Ghibli | Fantasy | History

Cast: Aki Asakura; Kengo Kora; Takeo Chii; Nobuko Miyamoto

Duration: 137 minutes

Released: November 2013

Plot: (Kissanime)

Okina is a bamboo cutter in ancient rural Japan. One day in the forest, he finds a tiny baby in the folds of a bamboo shoot. He brings the creature home to his wife Ounaa and they decide to keep her and raise her as a princess. She is clearly not of this world. Kaguya grows at an unnatural rate, soon maturing into an uncommonly beautiful young woman. Since Okina has now also found a cache of gold and treasure in the forest, every suitor wants Kaguya. But this is not a fairy tale of courtship and marriage.

Review:

Kaguya-Hime no Monogatari is about a supernatural being coming to Earth as a baby. Now, this being - baby girl is seen as an offering; a princess that landed from the heavens. She grows out of a bamboo shoot and is presented to a bamboo cutter. The story is based off an old Japanese folklore dated back to the 10th century.

The bamboo cutter takes her home to his wife and they begin to take care of her as their own child, though they still call her hime sama (the princess).

I don't know how much this 2013 adaptation differs from the original folklore but there have been adaptations before it. The Ghibli's hand-drawn animation inspired by eastern painting is used beautifully to portray Kaguya's state of mind.

The story does not go as someone who isn't aware of the folklore would think so. It took me by surprise since the story does not at the start give any indication as to who Kaguya is and why is she on Earth.

It takes us through her journey as a carefree child into a woman. Her father the bamboo cutter wishes for her to live the life of a noble princess and takes her to the capital. While she wishes to stay but the mountains and live with the trees and birds.

On becoming a woman she is given the noble name of Princess Kaguya: the shining light and the news of her beauty spreads wide. Kaguya has trouble choosing a groom as her mind is set into the mountains back home and the kid Sutemaru she used to play with.

So the story isn't exactly a love story or about a supernatural being living on Earth. Distraught she calls for help to get people from Moon. She is given only a few more days on Earth then they would come to rescue her, but Kaguya wasn't done yet she wanted to live more experience more because once she wears the moon cloth she would forget all the memories of Earth.

Eventually, it does happen and it leaves you heartbroken as she says goodbye to people one by one.

What confused me was the moon people. They come with a lot of dancers and musicians and take her away as a princess but the man that is in charge looks like Buddha. I am not sure it is of any relevance but just something that I noticed and it confused me.

Princess Kaguya's story has a lot to offer other than just a fantasy story it and that's the most appealing part of it. I may not watch it over and over again but after watching the movie it stayed on my mind for a long time.

Verdict: Naruto fans would love the movie, and just as a folklore it is just as amazing.

***1/2 stars

#AsianMovies #Anime