How Do You Live? (2023)
How Do You Live? (The Boy and the Heron) is a semi-autobiographical fantasy from Hayao Miyazaki that follows a young boy, Mahito, whose longing for his mother sends him into a liminal world where the living and the dead coexist. The film blends magical realism and quiet introspection to explore big themes—life, death, loss, creativity, and the redemptive power of friendship—without ever losing a sense of wonder. Watching the movie is an immersive experience: expect lush, hand-drawn animation and surreal, often haunting imagery that invites slow, thoughtful viewing. The story unfolds like a dream—melancholic and mysterious at times, tender and oddly consoling at others—rewarding patience with emotional depth and philosophical resonance rather than straightforward answers. Viewers will come away moved by its elegiac tone, visually dazzled by imaginative sequences, and left reflecting on what it means to grieve, to create, and to begin again.
Actors: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Takuya Kimura
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Runtime: 125 min
Genres: Animation, Drama, Family
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