The Wind Rises

The wind is rising! We must try to live. There is a deep, cozy warmth to The Wind Rises that feels different from any other Miyazaki masterpiece. It isn't the kind of magic you see in a moving castle, it’s the warmth of a person following their dream and finding a bit of light in a darkening world. Watching it feels like sitting by a fire while a storm is brewing outside. The movie does an incredible job of capturing the spectrum of human emotion, how humans actually feel that it feels less like watching a movie and more like remembering a dream. It shows Jiro’s passion for planes not just as a job, but as something he feels in his soul. When he succeeds, you feel that rush of wind with him. when things go wrong, you feel that heavy pit in your stomach. It’s grounded and real, even when it’s dreaming. But best part of the whole film in my opinion is the innocent love between Jiro and Nahoko. It is love in its purest form. In a world that’s falling apart around them, their relationship is the one thing that stays soft and kind. It is gentle, patient, and heartbreakingly sincere. They don’t have much time together, and they know it, which makes every small moment (like holding hands while working or a quiet walk in the wind) feel so much more important. It shows that love doesn't have to be loud or dramatic to be powerful, it just has to be sincere.