* Indicates English language version; ** indicates in Japanese with English subtitles
(1988) dir Hayao Miyazaki [86 min] One of the most endearing and internationally renowned family films of all time, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is a deceptively simple tale of two girls who move with their father to a new house in the countryside. The girls soon discover that the surrounding forests are home to a family of Totoros, gentle but powerful creatures who live in a huge, ancient tree and are seen only by children. Based on Miyazaki’s own childhood imaginings, Totoros look like oversized pandas with bunny ears and they take the girls on spinning-top rides through the tree tops and introduce them to a furry, multi-pawed Catbus — a nod to Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO’s playfulness and narrative simplicity belies a depth of wisdom and an almost spiritual reverence for the power of nature. The viewer is left with a sense of wonder at the beauty, mystery and preciousness of the world all around us.
My Neighbor Totoro
Buy Tickets Brattle passes accepted.
Also plays Sunday, September 2nd.
* Indicates English language version; ** indicates in Japanese with English subtitles
(1988) dir Hayao Miyazaki [86 min]
One of the most endearing and internationally renowned family films of all time, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is a deceptively simple tale of two girls who move with their father to a new house in the countryside. The girls soon discover that the surrounding forests are home to a family of Totoros, gentle but powerful creatures who live in a huge, ancient tree and are seen only by children. Based on Miyazaki’s own childhood imaginings, Totoros look like oversized pandas with bunny ears and they take the girls on spinning-top rides through the tree tops and introduce them to a furry, multi-pawed Catbus — a nod to Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO’s playfulness and narrative simplicity belies a depth of wisdom and an almost spiritual reverence for the power of nature. The viewer is left with a sense of wonder at the beauty, mystery and preciousness of the world all around us.