The Tale of Princess Kaguya Movie Review: From Folk Tale to Animated Masterpiece
Putting the movie, characters, and story aside for a hot second, I want to start out this review by saying how absolutely gorgeous and enthralling the soundtrack for The Tale of Princess Kaguya is. I know how great Joe Hisaishi is, but come on…this is a masterpiece. Ok back to the movie and more on the music later. Princess Kaguya is an animated film from Studio Ghibli directed by Isao Takahata, based on a Japanese folk tale about a young princess who mysteriously appears one day in a bamboo sprout, grows up in the countryside, and experiences a life of nobility. The animation adopts a simple hand-drawn and rough sketch style, but with colors reminiscent of a soft watercolor that flows from frame to frame. I think that this film is gorgeous and one that you will think about long after it’s over (especially if you’re crazy like me and have the soundtrack on repeat).
When I was watching this movie, I didn’t watch it in one full sitting. I watched it in 30-45 minute increments during my lunch break or after work until I eventually finished after 2-3 days. I know this is a shit way to experience a movie, but to be honest, I found the experience still very fulfilling. The pace of the movie isn’t particularly action-packed because a lot of the scenes show the subtle nature of domestic life and character relationships. I think there are a lot of great themes about the ups and downs of life, an obvious one being how beauty, fame, and riches are not prerequisites to happiness.
The original literary tale this movie is based off of is called The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, so Takahata shifted the perspective from the father to Princess Kaguya for this movie. There is certainly a lot to dip deep into regarding the relationship between Princess Kaguya and her father, the bamboo cutter. Most particularly about the responsibilities of a parent and how their beliefs on raising a child may not always be well-informed. Princess Kaguya is a very mysterious character from beginning to end, especially so when she enters a more noble life and has to deal with the responsibilities of her position and growing up. I remember crying at the very end of the story because one particular scene with Princess Kaguya, her mom, and her dad, was extremely heart-wrenching. At its core, this movie is also very much about family.
I am very obsessed with the soundtrack for this movie, composed by Joe Hisaishi. I feel like the music is so amazing at capturing the beauty of youth, wonder, and love for the world, all set up against a backdrop of ancient Japan. There is also a celestial element to this story, and after listening to the soundtrack multiple times, I am surprised by how much I love “The Procession of Celestial Beings.” It captures a different mood from the other songs, but it is so pleasing to the ear. I also love “Song of the Heavenly Maiden,” the folk song that Princess Kaguya sings with her mom. The dissonant tones of the second half of the song are so haunting. If you love instrumental music and you watched this movie, definitely give the soundtrack another listen once you’re done.
In conclusion…
The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a very gorgeous rendition of a simple and ancient folk tale. It shows the beauty of life, the contrast between the rich and the poor, and has mystical elements as well. I definitely think that this is well worth a watch, especially if you have an appreciation for animation and more slice-of-life type stories.