The Wind Rises - Hayao Miyazaki
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The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu), directed by Hayao Miyazaki in 2013, is a Japanese animated film that blends fictionalized biography, poetry, and reflection on war and dreams. Considered one of Miyazaki’s most personal works, it follows the life of Jirō Horikoshi, a Japanese aeronautical engineer and designer of the famed Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter plane used in World War II.
The story begins with Jirō as a young boy passionate about aviation, dreaming of becoming a pilot. However, due to his poor eyesight, he chooses instead to become an aircraft designer, inspired by the Italian engineer Giovanni Caproni. The film follows his journey from his studies at the Imperial University of Tokyo to the conception of the Zero, including travels to Germany and his encounter with Nahoko, a young woman suffering from tuberculosis.
The film explores profound themes such as passion, sacrifice, war, and moral responsibility. Jirō is portrayed as a man torn between his love for aviation and the awareness that his creations will be used for destruction. The quote from Paul Valéry—"The wind is rising. We must try to live."—serves as the film’s emotional compass, symbolizing the need to pursue one’s dreams despite life’s storms.
Visually, The Wind Rises is stunning. The landscapes are painted with meticulous care, and the flight scenes are imbued with grace and poetry. Joe Hisaishi’s music perfectly complements the film’s emotional tones, reinforcing its most powerful moments.
This film marks a turning point in Miyazaki’s career, moving away from fantasy to tackle a more realistic, historical subject. It offers a meditation on the duality between the beauty of creation and the consequences of its use, raising important questions about the responsibility of creators for how their work is applied.
The Wind Rises is a mature and introspective film that invites viewers to reflect on their own dreams and the sacrifices they may require. Without embellishment, it manages to leave a deep and lasting impression long after the credits roll.