Movie Thoughts: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

• Released: November 23, 2013
  
• Directed by: Isao Takahata
• Running time: 2h 17min
• Rating 3.5/5

Synopsis

A princess is born from a bamboo shoot and taken in by a poor couple. When they are given an unexpected amount of riches, they build a luxurious life for the princess, later named Kaguya. But is Kaguya truly happy with this life?

My Thoughts

This one is visually a very impressive film. It's probably one of my favorite Ghibli films visually, with a unique painterly look to it that can get very artsy at times.

But I'd be lying if I said I really emotionally connected with this film. I do think it's objectively good, plus based on the reviews I've seen this movie does really hit emotionally for a lot of people, but for me? Eh, not so much. 

Kaguya is an okay character but not overly interesting (kind of your standard "princess who doesn't want to act like a princess" type of character throughout a lot of the movie). Her parents, though, who are major characters, is really where I just kind of got really frustrated with the film. Her adoptive father keeps forcing her into this life because he thinks it is best for her, but it's clearly not making her happy. He even wants to marry her to a bunch of creepy much-older men when she is barley of age. And while her mother might not seem as bad sometimes, she also does enable the father's behavior and never really puts a stop to him.

So when there's this emotional scene at the end of the movie and I'm supposed to feel sad Kaguya has to leave her home on Earth to return to her celestial life, I really felt nothing. I felt almost glad she at least was free now of the awful restraining life her father was forcing her into. How am I supposed to feel sad about this "emotional" goodbye to her adoptive parents when her adoptive parents (particularly her father) just forced her into a life that made her absolutely miserable?

Also I felt no chemistry between her and the boy character (Sutemaru) she ends up falling in love with. Sure, they were childhood friends, but I really didn't feel any deeper connection between the two than that. So having them somewhat get together even if briefly feels weird, especially since at that point in their lives Sutemaru already has a wife and a child. Am I really supposed to be rooting for him falling for someone else here? Of course, his romance with Kaguya wasn't meant to be, but it's still hard to root for (even if briefly) when A) there's very little chemistry between the two and B) had they actually gotten and stayed together, Sutemaru would basically be cheating on his wife.

So yeah, I do think this is a good movie. Please don't get me wrong. There are good qualities about it, but for me the main three characters (Kaguya and her family) didn't do much for me and the romance with Sutemaru wasn't handled well. Which are all key points in the movie.

Do recommend you give this one at least one watch, even if just to appreciate the beautiful visuals. A fine film, but not much more (aside from some outstanding visuals).