A little boy who lost his mother in a fire is tormented by Danny De Vito disguised as a heron. The original title is taken from a Japanese novel from the thirties, but the film's plot is actually a loose adaptation of John Connolly's "The Book of Lost Things." Needless to say, we’re embarking on another journey into a fantastic world full of references and metaphors that only Miyazaki understands without caring about his audience. We’re asked to find our own interpretation, and personally, I saw it more as a tribute to the works that inspired Miyazaki over the years rather than mere references to his own films, as if he is pointing out that each generation’s narrative and cultural baggage are a product of the previous, in a continuous passing of the torch.

The first part, laid-back and contemplative, oddly left a stronger impression on me, aided by the beautiful music and landscapes. However, once the magical journey began, I found the whole thing extremely cloying and narratively disjointed. Certainly, there are various fascinating sceneries and memorable moments, but the whole picture failed to convince me. In short, my basic review of most of Ghibli’s films.