The Kingdom of Dream's and Madness (夢と狂気の王国) is a documentary on legendary Studio Ghibli. The film was directed by Sunada Mami. The film was recorded in 2012 and 2013 and was released in November of 2013.
The documentary deals with the history and working relationship between the core members of Studio Ghibli; Miyazaki Hayao, Suzuki Toshio and Takahato Isao. It primarily follows Miyazaki as the company works on the film The Wind Rises. At the same time, in a different location, Takahato is working on completing The Princess Kaguya. Suzuki does his best to promote the films and keep both stubborn men on track to complete their latest efforts. Miyazaki is presented as a man who genuflects on the world around him and his role with in it. A man deeply cemented to his routine, he pines about still drawing at his advanced age. His devotion and passion come through in his interactions with the people around him and the whimsy he still finds in his jaded life. Takahato is not really interviewed for the movie and a recurring theme is the tension and competitiveness between both directors. Suzuki is presented as the one with business sense. His role as producer means he needs to make the sales for the products the studio generates. That task seems to be less daunting today than it was when the studio was first founded in the 1980's. That said, he still has his work cut out for him.
This documentary is not the definitive piece on the history and organization of Studio Ghibli. It is a brief look into the intimate process of its creators, most notably Miyazaki and Suzuki. The movie shows the main figure of the studio as a man who continues doing what he has done for so long because that's what defines his life. Miyazaki is gruff and leery of the world but exudes kindness and compassion. He cares for those around him and tries hard to not distance himself from those that work for him. Unlike a man of his stature, he works out in the open with everyone and puts in more hours than most. It's hard to imagine the type of wealth he has given the simplistic life portrayed in the film. That said, the men behind the studio's creation are chain smoking visionaries who struggle with the motivation to do what they do. Whether from exhaustion, not fully understanding the message they want to get across or doubting the public's reception. With the studio closing down, possibly forever, after the completion of When Marnie Was There, the documentary carries somber tones.
While this is not the in depth and detailed history lesson about the world famous studio or an in depth exposition of the creative process its members go through, the movie is enjoyable and easy to watch. It would be nice to have some mechanical documentation of the studio but the organic and personal tone of this movie does well to express the studio at the time of its filming. Already well established and prosperous, its leaders are nearing the ends of their careers and mildly reflecting on what the future holds for them, if not in words but in actions.
The documentary deals with the history and working relationship between the core members of Studio Ghibli; Miyazaki Hayao, Suzuki Toshio and Takahato Isao. It primarily follows Miyazaki as the company works on the film The Wind Rises. At the same time, in a different location, Takahato is working on completing The Princess Kaguya. Suzuki does his best to promote the films and keep both stubborn men on track to complete their latest efforts. Miyazaki is presented as a man who genuflects on the world around him and his role with in it. A man deeply cemented to his routine, he pines about still drawing at his advanced age. His devotion and passion come through in his interactions with the people around him and the whimsy he still finds in his jaded life. Takahato is not really interviewed for the movie and a recurring theme is the tension and competitiveness between both directors. Suzuki is presented as the one with business sense. His role as producer means he needs to make the sales for the products the studio generates. That task seems to be less daunting today than it was when the studio was first founded in the 1980's. That said, he still has his work cut out for him.
This documentary is not the definitive piece on the history and organization of Studio Ghibli. It is a brief look into the intimate process of its creators, most notably Miyazaki and Suzuki. The movie shows the main figure of the studio as a man who continues doing what he has done for so long because that's what defines his life. Miyazaki is gruff and leery of the world but exudes kindness and compassion. He cares for those around him and tries hard to not distance himself from those that work for him. Unlike a man of his stature, he works out in the open with everyone and puts in more hours than most. It's hard to imagine the type of wealth he has given the simplistic life portrayed in the film. That said, the men behind the studio's creation are chain smoking visionaries who struggle with the motivation to do what they do. Whether from exhaustion, not fully understanding the message they want to get across or doubting the public's reception. With the studio closing down, possibly forever, after the completion of When Marnie Was There, the documentary carries somber tones.
While this is not the in depth and detailed history lesson about the world famous studio or an in depth exposition of the creative process its members go through, the movie is enjoyable and easy to watch. It would be nice to have some mechanical documentation of the studio but the organic and personal tone of this movie does well to express the studio at the time of its filming. Already well established and prosperous, its leaders are nearing the ends of their careers and mildly reflecting on what the future holds for them, if not in words but in actions.
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