The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is not as flashy or high-profile as Studio Ghibli's other productions. It didn't get the attention it deserved while in theaters so let's rectify this now that it's available on home video. Let's get more people to experience this layered drama.
Based on the Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, the story begins when an ordinary bamboo cutter (voiced by James Caan) discovers a miniature girl inside a glowing bamboo shoot. When the girl turns into a baby, he and his wife (Mary Steenburgen) adopt her. From her mysterious appearance and the miracles that surround her, the bamboo cutter is certain that she is destined to be a princess, and moves the family to the big city. But the change from peasant girl to royalty is one that does not sit well with the newly titled “Princess Kaguya” (voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz as an adult and Caitlyn Leone when she is young).
The film's most striking feature is the visuals. Princess Kaguya does not look like any other film. It emulates the appearance of Japanese watercolor and ink painting. Unless each frame was hand-painted, I have no idea how the effect was achieved. Even scenes where nothing is happening look visually distinct from anything you’ve witnessed before. Particularly evocative is a moment when Kaguya is presented as an ideal brought to life rather than a person. You simultaneously see the appeal of the princess as a woman of royalty worthy of worship and lament how un-human she looks. She's not a real person anymore, she’s a piece of art. It helps immerse you in the atmosphere of this fairytale. Praise to director Isao Takahata for making a story most people outside of Japan have never heard of instantly relatable.
Change a few details around and this could be a story from any country. A child given to a pair of kind, elderly parents, and destined for something bigger? It could be Thumbelina. It could be Superman. Then there’s that portion of the new, something that’s decidedly Japanese that’s brought in. Kaguya (as she will be known eventually) is ripped away from her friends and put into this sterile, boring, procedural world. You sympathize with her dreams of wanting something else, but the film does such a good job immersing you in this culture that when the responsibilities of duty and honor come in to squelch the rebellion in her heart (or do they?) you understand her actions completely. It wasn't that I was familiar with the folktale; it’s that stories like this have a universal appeal. No matter where you’re from, some part of them will click with you.
I loved the visuals and the story. My one criticism concerns the overlong running time. Some of the beginning of the movie could've been cut out. The meat of the story has Kaguya transitioning between peasantry and royalty. Seeing her as a baby that's unable to talk or do anything of her own volition doesn't add much.
I’m certain that a second would only deepen my appreciation of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. It has well-developed characters, striking visuals, thought-provoking ideas, touching drama, and a few smidges of comedy - just enough to make it all feel real. Maybe not one for the kids but a great film for older audiences. (On Blu-ray, December 25, 2015)
