Some claim that January is a cultural dead zone for events, and on days when the sun seems to clock out at noon, it’s hard to argue. But while much of the city hibernates, one institution keeps the lights on. Thanks, independent movie theaters!! This month’s screenings come through with interesting takes on class critique and iconic Miyazaki films; read on for the scoop on those, plus six other films that feel anything but sleepy.
Studio Ghibli Film Festival
For fans of Laika Studios, Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name (2017), Mamoru Hosoda’s The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006).
Asking someone whether they like Studio Ghibli films is a bit like asking whether they like cinema at all. Over the past four decades, the Japanese animation studio has become synonymous with emotionally resonant storytelling and poetic, intelligent engagement with nature and the more-than-human world. These aren’t just “kids’ movies” by any stretch—although your kid is certain to love them, if they don’t already.
If you’re a Ghibli devotee, you know all of this, and you’re likely jazzed for the return of OMSI’s annual Studio Ghibli Film Festival. This year’s edition opens with a 4K restoration of Princess Mononoke, followed by crowd pleasers like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service…