In a Nutshell. Mini reviews of movies old and new. No fuss. No spoilers. And often no sleep.

Monday 31 July 2017

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

It was officially released before Studio Ghibli existed but many of the themes and techniques that the studio is known for were birthed in Nausicaä.
The valley residents harness the power of the wind to survive, but the wind also carries poisonous spores from the polluted forests and swamps that cover the Earth. The relationship between man and nature is a delicate one that's thrown into turmoil when a warlike nation pushes their ambition too far. The titular Princess finds herself in the middle, forced to weigh her reverence for all life against the need to preserve and protect the innocent.
The three-decades-old animation is less sophisticated than modern Ghibli, but when placed in its own time it really shines, with the compassionate, level-headed Nausicaä on her glider being especially memorable.
The ending is abrupt but the scenes played over the credits compensate.

3½ angry ohmus out of 5

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