Aside from perhaps Walt Disney himself, there is arguably no person in the history of animated motion pictures who deserves more acclaim than Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. As the mastermind and genius behind timeless works such as My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, many frames of which he drew by hand, The Wind Rises marks his final effort as a director before retirement - thankfully, it ranks right up there as one of his best and most emotionally resonant works, both poignant and enchanting in equal measure. A fictionalised biopic of Japanese design engineer Jiro Horikoshi, who was responsible for the Mitsubishi A5M and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero (both aircraft used in the Second World War), The Wind Rises is perhaps Miyazaki's most ambitious picture yet. That's not to say it isn't flawed, because it is - a point that only serves to make it more interesting by the time the credits are rolling, however. Many might object to Miyazaki's positioning here, but ultimately this stunningly rendered, melancholic tale clings to a resonating power; what a way to go out.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
