Message from kwalsh

[Anonymous]

I thoroughly enjoyed Spirited Away. I would have loved to show this film in my class, but it is not rated "G" (darn elementary school rules). So, for those of you that have lesser restrictions, i highly recommend this movie if you'd like your students to learn about Japanese religious beliefs and culture.

The movie is about a Japanese girl (Shihiro) that gets trapped in the spirit world. The majority of the film takes place in a bath house for spirits where Shihiro is forced to work. The movie is rich in symbolism, spirits, underlying messages about manners and work ethic, and visually stunning as well.

I wish I had more knowledge of the spirits that come to life in this movie. I think that would have allowed me to understand the movie on a deeper level. One scene I loved is when a horrible, stinky muck-covered blob enters the bath house and Shihiro, because she is the low woman on the totem pole is forced to attend to it. All the bath house attendants think it is a stink spirit, for obvious reasons. Shihiro slips into the tub with it and realizes that he has a thorn in its side and she thinks that he will be more comfortable if she removes it. Finally, after tugging and tugging, the thorn comes out along with a huge wave of muck: dirty water, an old bicycle, bowling pins, a refrigerator and tons of other odd trash. When all is released, the real spirit is revealed; she wasn't taking care of a stink spirit, but rather a rich and powerful river spirit. The trash of course that was released was a reminder of all the pollution that had ruined it.

This is one small scene in a rich and intriguing movie; definitely worth the rental fee.