A new documentary highlighting the life and career of the inimitable Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki will bow at this year’s Venice Film Festival (Aug. 28-Sept. 7). Ahead of the debut, a trailer has been released for Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature — a project originating in France.
Setting it apart from previous documentaries, such as NHK’s Never-Ending Man and four-part 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki, which focused on the filmmaker’s work process and philosophy of animated art, Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature focuses on his deep connection to nature and the themes of environmental crisis, stewardship and renewal seen in his films. From Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind to My Neighbor Totoro to Princess Mononoke, the interdependent relationship of humans and the natural world has been a key theme of Miyazaki’s works throughout his career.
Directed by Léo Favier and written by Favier and Léo Brachet, the doc features excerpts from the films themselves as well as insightful interviews with figures including his longtime colleague, producer and Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki; his son, director Goro Miyazaki (From Up on Poppy Hill); and former Ghibli animator Hiromasa Yonebayashi (When Marnie Was There), co-founder of Studio Ponoc. Audiences will also hear from Japanese animation, manga & modern literature specialist Prof. Susan Napier (author of Miyazakiworld), and philosopher-ecologist Prof. Timothy Morton (author of Being Ecological).
Miyazaki, Spirit of Nautre is produced by Les Bons Clients (Loïc Bouchet, Thibaut Camurat), ARTE France Tag Film (Christian Popp) and Emi Gueydan-Hiraoka. Worldwide sales are through Balanga.
[Source: Deadline]
