Laputa: Castle in the Sky
Hayao Miyazaki’s Laputa: Castle in the Sky carries most of the artist’s themes with pride, telling a beautifully naturalistic story about humanity’s relationship to nature and how we need it regardless of whether it needs us. Miyazaki constructs something marvellous here, utilizing a few film clichés effectively to make a terrific family experience t hat is brimming with colour and deep philosophy about the richness of our planet and why it is so important to support.
Miyazaki’s European influences shine here, as the architecture and characters come from his travels on the continent. Wales factors in especially with the way the towns and the working class nature of the people come across in the picture, but this is a story that could really take place anywhere. It, like most of Studio Ghibli’s work, is never so ensconced in one place or one time as to make it sluggish. It is a timeless piece of work.
We are introduced to the world quickly aboard an airship. We meet a young girl, Sheeta, and are instantly caught up in her plight as she is being escorted by a bunch of sinister characters led by Colonel Muska. We don’t know where she’s being taken to, but it can’t be good because she tries to escape when pirates attack the airship. If young Sheeta’s willing to chance it with the pirates, what does that say about her current captors?
Somehow Sheeta finds herself falling to the earth, but she is saved by a magical blue pendant around her neck and discovered by a boy named Pazu. The two become fast friends. Eventually, Pazu and Sheeta come into contact with Muska’s men again, who are most certainly after the pendant, and the pirates, who are after anything shiny. We learn that the pendant is the key to a magical flying city called Laputa that is said to contain unspeakable riches and the race to reach it is on.
Miyazaki’s Laputa: Castle in the Sky is a basic reworking of the themes from Gulliver’s Travels but with a more environmental edge to it. Laputa is an interesting place in that it is a naturalistic floating “city” that has its uses for each pursuer. The pirates want the riches, while the military wants to use it as a powerful weapon. This imagery is incredibly relevant today given the Middle East situation, but it never feels too political or “adult.”
Instead, Miyazaki gives us this basis and then keeps the focus on the children and their understanding of Laputa. The relationship between Sheeta and Pazu is incredibly entertaining and sweet, with light tinges of young love tempering their actions. Pazu goes through anything and everything to save and protect Sheeta, showing her true simple love without turning to overbearing or obnoxious measures like a certain young and disgustingly popular vampire might do to “shelter” his Bella.
The animation, as we’ve come to expect from Miyazaki and the Studio Ghibli gang, is beautiful and colourful and detailed. The movie is a treat to look at and is given even more substance by Joe Hisaishi’s score. Here it is important to see a Japanese dub of the picture, if possible, as the Disney dub had Joe Hisaishi balloon his original score up to a whopping 90 minutes of symphonic filler.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky is a truly tremendous piece of work. It offers a healthy, honest message about our relationship to the planet without drawing vile politics into it and wraps it all up in a beautifully animated and wonderfully delivered package. Miyazaki’s body of work is one of the true treasures of our time and it would be a mistake to pass up an opportunity to see Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
Trailer:
