The Wind Rises

An outlier in Miyazaki’s filmography, none of the usual whimsy and magic you’d find in a Ghibli film. Yet, a beautifully fitting film for Miyazaki’s “retirement”, serving as a biopic of Jiro Horikoshi’s life, what better “ending” to his career than one that breaks from his own mould, and spins a tale about his most keen interest that has held staunch presence in almost all his films, aviation. A tragically beautiful tale, with stunning visuals, aching scores, hooking storyline and an ending that hits you like a sledgehammer when you realise what just passed your eyes. In my opinion, a better final film than The Boy and the Heron, but who can complain when you get more Miyzaki.