Hayao Miyazaki et le héron

Much of the content from this documentary can be found in other, better documentaries. I recommend Never-Ending Man. It has a stronger narrative and illuminates more of Miyazaki's actual decision making and design process.

From the opening shot of Miyazaki in the hot spring, I thought, "this is an odd opening for the movie". Miyazaki sits nude, with his genitals pixelated, staring at the camera. As a filmmaker, every shot is intentional. It's not there by accident, it's conscious. What does it communicate? Nothing, it's over in an instant, traveling through scenes from a life, paced with rapid cuts. From this opening, it becomes apparent very quickly that the editor of this piece has no sense of storytelling, seemingly no care in putting these pieces together. Such a thoughtless presentation of such a thoughtful man.

Miyazaki's life advances, but senseless editing gives no sense of time, disparate clips from Miyazaki films are interwoven with no rhythm. The film rushes, with title cards counting down days but gone without a moment to breathe. As we move from the death of one friend to another, scenes and shots are smattered together, with cuts happening in fractions of seconds. Why did they cut there, why are they showing me this, what is even going on? At times it becomes a near visual jumble, difficult to watch or understand moments that should have emotional impact but are instead choked for air.

There's no sensibility here. Everything out of context. The man is worth my time, this movie isn't.