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First non-Japanese film to be produced by Studio Ghibli. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 8/10
The movie is visually stunning and conceptually intriguing.
Animator Michael Dudok de Wit has had the improbable chance to make his
feature-length debut in partnership with studio Ghibli, and with full
artistic autonomy. The result is one hour and a half of purely visual
narrative. A bold choice but with no doubt one that works out
beautifully. The result is simple, fresh and beautiful, and definitely
worthy of the Studio Ghibli stamp.
However, leaving the theater, I had the peculiar impression of having
watched the world's longest short. It's an observation that's neither
positive nor negative, at least I've been unable to define whether this
is an accomplishment or a weakness. That is to say : the film might
come off as a bit light, but at the same time, its single-topic
approach is elegant and truly enjoyable to watch, and beautifully
poetic in its way of finding big stories in the simplest of things.
Anyway, a debut that makes us very curious where Mchaël Dudok de Wit
will take us in his future work.
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