Latest feature Films

The Boy and the Heron

In his last (for now) feature film, Hayao Miyazaki draws on personal childhood experiences, motifs from the pacifist children’s book “How Do You Live?” and his relationship with his long-time companions to create this thoughtful and imaginative look back at his career. 

Towards the end of the Second World War, the air raids on Japan are escalating. Eleven-year-old Mahito loses his mother in one of these bombings. When his father marries Naoko, the younger sister of his deceased wife, shortly afterwards, they move to a remote estate where life as a new family is strained. Mahito’s lethargy is broken by a mysterious talking heron that claims his mother lives in a strange tower near the estate. Soon afterwards, Naoko strangely disappears. Was the heron telling the truth? Determined to find his mother and stepmother, Mahito searches for the heron. As he enters the tower, he opens the door to a surreal world in which both life and death are ever present. 

Inspired by Genzaburo Yoshino’s literary classic “How Do You Live?”, the legendary director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, returned from retirement for what could be his last film. His longtime companion and friend Joe Hisaishi once again composed the score, accompanying Miyazaki’s melancholy images with fantastic melodies. The studio worked on this masterpiece for seven years. Their dedication and penchant for perfection were rewarded with numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2024 Oscars. (Dorian Duric) 

Towards the end of the Second World War, the air raids on Japan are escalating. Eleven-year-old Mahito loses his mother in one of these bombings. When his father marries Naoko, the younger sister of his deceased wife, shortly afterwards, they move to a remote estate where life as a new family is strained. Mahito’s lethargy is broken by a mysterious talking heron that claims his mother lives in a strange tower near the estate. Soon afterwards, Naoko strangely disappears. Was the heron telling the truth? Determined to find his mother and stepmother, Mahito searches for the heron. As he enters the tower, he opens the door to a surreal world in which both life and death are ever present. 

Inspired by Genzaburo Yoshino’s literary classic “How Do You Live?”, the legendary director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, returned from retirement for what could be his last film. His longtime companion and friend Joe Hisaishi once again composed the score, accompanying Miyazaki’s melancholy images with fantastic melodies. The studio worked on this masterpiece for seven years. Their dedication and penchant for perfection were rewarded with numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2024 Oscars. (Dorian Duric) 


Info

Direction Hayao Miyazaki
Duration 124'
Country JP, 2023

Appointments & Tickets

Thu 5.9. • 20:30
Orient Cinema *
SOLD
OUT

Sat 7.9. • 18:15
Orient Cinema *
SOLD
OUT

Sun 8.9. • 18:30
Cinema Trafo 3**

12+ 124' Japanese
*English subtitles, **German subtitles

trailer