If you're looking for a Sci-Fi adventure film and if you love the Studio Ghibli-verse,* you're in the right place. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) is a spectacular Ghibli feature that is set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian universe and is sure to tickle your fancy. Not to mention it's pretty freaking cute... I'll talk more about that later. ;)
So, the film starts out focusing on a young, red-headed girl named Nausicaä, who is the princess of the Valley of the Wind. We're first introduced to her as she is scavenging in the wilderness equipped with her breathing mask. She demonstrates a childlike fascination with the world that gets the audience to fall in love with the post-apocalyptic wasteland she lives in.
As we get to know Nausicaä, we find that she is not only noble by birth, but that she has a noble heart. That is to say, she has a bigger heart than most others in her world, herself uniquely offering love to some of the uglier, more vicious creatures surrounding her. In fact, it is this type of love and acceptance that saves her by the end of the film. To put it into simpler terms, Nausicaä is kind of like that stereotypical little kid who will take all the needy plants and animals home to give a helping hand. You know, sort of like an Eliza Thornberry type. Very cute, and actually good characterization overall of Nausicaä as a person.
The overall message built into the film is that humans desperately need to take better care of nature. This is pretty common for Ghibli films, Pom Poko and Princess Mononoke standing as just two examples of other environmentally friendly Ghibli films. That said, I love how Studio Ghibli tied the environmentalist concerns of the film to the fundamental, universal principle that we need to appreciate and love life in all its forms. And when we extend our love and appreciation of life to other beings, we shouldn't judge on appearance. I know this is incredibly sappy of me, but I LOVED this aspect of the film, mainly because I think this is a life lesson that too many humans can't even begin to get a clue about. So, in sum, I'd say that the moral and ethical dilemmas dealt with in the movie leave the viewer with a net positive impact; this being the case even though environmentalist messages can generally get real old real fast, especially if done poorly. Not the case here though!
At least for the most part. While it was mostly great, some points in the movie felt like overkill, as the bad guys who were essentially against nature did not seem to have any good in them whatsoever. Disagree if you like, but I thought that the characters' sides were written in black and white. If they were against nature, they were bad, and if they were friends of nature, they were good. Not really room for an in between. Also, I don't really follow the bad guys' logic in picking a fight with the giant, dangerous creatures that stampede and kill people. Not to mention their desire to resurrect the gargantuan creatures that destroyed everything in the first place, simply for the sake of expanding their kingdom. I don't get it... Especially since everyone seems to be struggling to survive at all. Ain't nobody got time for a territorial war in this kind of world; at least, if we're trying to be realistic here.
On a different note, the music was fabulous, in my opinion. It wasn't AMAZING, but it was good. Probably my favorite melody from the film was Nausicaä's tune that she sang to the ohms--it was a great embodiment of an innocent childhood friendship (listen to the melody below). Very cute. Also, because this is a Ghibli film (made by the Ghibli people before the studio was technically created), the fact that the animation was great is pretty much a given. The landscapes in particular were really cool because they captured pretty well what I would imagine a post-apocalyptic world to look like. I especially like the opening scene, when Nausicaä takes a deceased ohm's eye home because it looks like a really interesting half crystal ball. The pollutants (spores) looked like snow in the sky and on the ground, which I thought was an intriguing set-up. Really great imagining of what a post-apocalyptic world would look like.
As for the story itself, I'd say it's pretty simple, but I think this movie is more about the art speaking for itself than the story being complex. In fact, I think the purpose of this film is more to inspire introspection on the topic of the human impact on the environment than to entertain. I like this about the film though because, due to the fact that the movie lets you breathe and allows you time to think about what is taking place, the message comes out in a clear, yet not annoying way. **American films about the environment, PLEASE take note!**
All in all, despite some of the flaws in this movie, it was a work of art. And not only is it enjoyable to watch, but it leaves you thinking about some critical life lessons. I'd give it an 8/10 because it is a great movie, but some things could be slightly better or more interesting. I do also have to point out that this film was made in the 80s, but it could more than compete with all of the cartoons coming out today. Crazy how, if a film is done right, it doesn't matter when it was made--it's the work that was put into it that matters. Miyazaki is a genius though, so this is not surprising.
That's all for now! Did we miss anything? Completely disagree with our assessment? Love everything we said? Leave your comment below to tell us what you think.
*For those of you who don't know what Studio Ghibli is, you should know! They're an amazing animation studio that has come out with some of the best animated features of our time, and I'm not just saying that. They have proven themselves time and time again with films like Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and others.
