Although a sumptuous and beautifully styled film, we mustn't forget about the actual subject matter. A fitting way to end the career of Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, this gorgeous anime focuses on the career of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of several well known Japanese aircrafts during WWII. It might seem a strange topic for an anime, and although it does make you ponder the remarkable outcome of these flying machines and what they were used for, it's actually a very powerful and heart-warming story. It shows us the intimate relationship Jiro had with his girlfriend-then-wife Nahoko, who sadly contracts tuberculosis, as well as his close friendship with his best friend Kiro, who also designs these planes. (I do understand the controversy with using a warplane designer as the main protagonist, but I don't personally believe that it affects the film in a negative way.)
To top it off, the music is lovely, and really sets the scene. Although I usually despise dubbing in films this was actually done very tastefully, and I could still enjoy the story without getting frustrated at the usual over the top American accents that ruin films like this.
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