My neighbor Totoro

Hugh Clack Movies, Reviews

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Writer: Hayao Miyazaki

Leading roles: Hitoshi Takagi, Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto

Now is a unique change to see the classic movie “Totoro” in the movie theatre. “My neighbour Totoro” is one of the most, if not the most famous film Studio Ghibli has ever made. Movie was first released in the year 1988, but remains its popularity throughout all these years.

The movie is a sweet story about two sisters who move out to the countryside with their father. The girls mother is in a hospitalised due to tuberculosis. Regardless of the mother’s illness the family tries to be as happy and cheerful as possible.

The new house has been uninhabited for a while, and the girls see tiny creatures lurking in the corners, called soot spirits. After a while the soot spirits decide to find a new more peaceful home, and fly off into the woods. Soot spirits hardly are the last of magical creatures that the girls come across in their new surroundings. One day, the younger sister called Mei sees something moving in the grass in their backyard. She sees this tiny, chubby, furry creature rush into the woods and follows it. In the woods she founds the creature’s large friendly lookalike. The large creature growls its name, which Mei interprets to be “Totoro”. She falls asleep on Totoro’s belly. Although, when Mei’s big sister Satsuki finds Mei, she is sleeping peacefully in a dense grass. Mei is disappointed when Totoro seems to be gone, but Satsuki comforts her by saying that the Totoro is a spirit of the woods, and will surely reveal itself again when the time is right.

The movie is one the movies that I grew up with. “My neighbour Totoro” entertains all people regardless of age. This is one of the movies that always makes me feel good. As a trademark of Hayao Miyazaki’s the story has also some deeper meanings to it.

This movie is a classic for a reason.

 

STARS: 3,5/5

Hugh Clack
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