Miyazaki's farewell is a dreamy, spiritual journey that winks at his past works while standing out as something uniquely new.
Heads up, spoilers: The film dives deep into the existential question of where we choose to live. We can see the connection between Mahito and Himi, who both have turned to a fantastical world as a coping mechanism after losing their mothers. Like Mahito, Himi too decides to leave the comforts of her fantasy world for the raw reality of life - war, pain, loss. It's her conscious choice, knowing it will eventually lead to her demise, that drives home the film's poignant message: it is not how we depart, but how we live that truly matters.
Heads up, spoilers: The film dives deep into the existential question of where we choose to live. We can see the connection between Mahito and Himi, who both have turned to a fantastical world as a coping mechanism after losing their mothers. Like Mahito, Himi too decides to leave the comforts of her fantasy world for the raw reality of life - war, pain, loss. It's her conscious choice, knowing it will eventually lead to her demise, that drives home the film's poignant message: it is not how we depart, but how we live that truly matters.