Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

My first Miyazaki was Howl's Moving Castle. Instantly, I was hooked and went out to find the rest. They all sounded wonderful. Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away. However, one title stuck out, and that was Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Simply wonderful. A good title makes the viewer focus his attention, hinting at something important, before seeing a single frame. Sin City is about the nasty world it's characters inhabit. The Dark Knight is about the seemingly hopeless dilemmas Bruce Wayne/Batman is thrown into. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is about... well I don't know what it's about, really. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (no abbreviations, I love to write that title) is first of all a character study, then an environmental morality tale.

Nausicaa is a fascinating character. She's a young woman (slightly older than the usual Miyazaki heroine) and beloved princes of the valley of the wind. When the film starts, we see her out in her glider, searching for supplies for her little kingdom. From this scene onward, Nausicaa is always seen helping others, putting herself second. She brings back valuable goods to her town, where she immediately starts work on a broken windmill. At one point, she takes off her mask in a toxic forest so that her people can see her reassuring face and be calm. An old knight half heartedly jokes that he would like to see Nausicaa take a break from such dangerous activities so that he could have a good night without worrying about his princess. Her whole kingdom adores her, and would do anything for her. Something that surprises and delights me every time I watch any Miyazaki film is the goodness of the people that inhabit his worlds. I tire of thiefs, lawyers, killers, tyrants, and "morally complex" protagonists that populate most films. Not even superheroes are saved from this dark trend. It's refreshing to see how the community of the valley, under the direction of Nausicaa operates in unison for the good of all. Idealistic? Perhaps, but, if I may borrow from a great artist, "you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." Audiences, I suspect, love Miyazaki because he shows that humanity is inherently good natured. For that alone I hold dear all of his films.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is the portrait of a young revolutionary pacifist who opposes the forces of war and destruction. Nausicaa loses her temper once, near the beginning of the film when her father is assassinated. She kills three people. Instantly, she notices the atrocity she herself committed. Nausicaa knows the value of life.In contrast to her is Lord Yupa. He's a veteran soldier, and the best swordsman of that magical world. He's a good man who will use violence only as a last resort, but he is desensitize and shows little regret at killing. Nausicaa spends some time quietly pondering her act. Then, she cries. This, alongside a moment of desperation, when Nausicaa cries again for the violence to stop, are two of the most touching scenes I've ever seen in any movie animated or otherwise. Recently,  I saw that the number of people killed in 2012surpassed that of 2011. Lately, I've grown tired of wars both civil and foreign, of murders, drone strikes, and paranoid fears of nuclear apocalypse. I sympathize with Nausicaa and wish to cry out too for the violence to stop. 

The violence in this film is that of humans who want to wipe away a toxic forest, and all creatures living within it. The people of the valley would listen to Nausicaa when she warns that these creatures are beneficial to humans. However, she doesn't get the chance. The valley is besieged by warring nations who carry with them one giant warrior who will bring destruction to the forest, and world domination to whomever controls it. Through Nausicaa, Miyazaki pushes the idea of peaceful cohabitation with our natural environment. Too overt? Let me explain why it doesn't bother me. Miyazaki first stresses the importance of human life, later, that of the environment. Even Nausicaa gets supplies from the forest and defends herself when its creatures attack her. I was reminded of Princes Mononoke, when the main character is forced to kill a wild boar to protect his people. Again, human life is of the utmost importance according to Miyazaki. 

Nausicaa is best suited to carry Miyazakis's message because  is blessed with a special ability to relate to animals deeply. She understands them, and can live with them peacefully. One of my favorite moments has Nausicaa taming a small cat/squirrel-like little animal. It will bring a smile to your face. This little monster is just one of many lovely animals that spring from the imagination of the master. Most in this film are giant insects, but they are stunning to behold. Every frame of this film contains a magnificent sight. Nausicaa with bright red hair and blue dress gliding over the deep green valley, all draped  in golden sunlight is but one of the sights I wanted to keep forever, to hang up as a painting. Not even the words of the best poets (let alone those of a mediocre writer such as myself) would do justice in describing the wonderful visuals of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Reader, I urge you to go watch this film, to be reminded that people are good and that the world is a beautiful place. 

Verdict- 4/4

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) PG 1h 58min. 

Random Thoughts

-Shia LaBoeuf does some surprisingly good voice acting in the English version.

-Normally, I try to watch films exactly the way they were made to be seen. However, Disney normally does a fine job with translations. I like to leave the whole image unblemished when I watch a Miyazaki. Subtitles get in the way.

- Director's trademark- flying. Every great Miyazaki contains at least one breathtaking flight.

- I love how the big, supposedly indestructible giant warrior melts. He looks like he's made out of mud.

-Miyazaki tells the story he wants to tell and that's it. No half hour farewell, no wasted shots. Still, his films take their time when it's important such as when Nausicaa lies down to watch the gorgeous snowflake-like spores that, as she remarks, could easily kill her.

-quote of the film "why does everything that's good for you taste so bad?" a widespread sentiment, not voiced often enough in films.
- images from bluray.com