In my very first post on this blog, I made a promise that I would share my enthusiasm for the Studio and Movies that I love. And, as a man of my word, I plan to fulfill that promise. To that end, starting next Monday, I will begin posting movie reviews on a bi-weekly basis. Henceforth, these days will be known as "Movie Review Mondays".
Through these reviews I hope to give an in depth analysis of the given film, as well as convey both my enthusiasm for the movie and give some background on it.
For this first review, I will be focusing in Porco Rosso, as it is quite possibly my all time favorite Ghibli film. While it is neither Hayao Miyazaki's most popular or highly acclaimed film, I think its themes and story are among the best Ghibli has to offer.
Taking place in the year 1929, the story of Porco Rosso is set off the coast of Italy, in the Adriatic Sea. This setting is extremely important, as much of the movie focuses on the effects war has had both on the characters of the film and the country as a whole.
Not only does the film beautifully portray the struggles of a nation reeling from war, but it also explores feminist themes through its strong female characters and expresses its creator's unbridled love for the art of flight and aviation.
Marco Rossolini
Our main character, Marco, is a former fighter ace of the Italian Airforce who now makes a living as an aerial bounty hunter. Throughout the film, Marco is shown to have great distaste for war and the post WWI fascist government that rules Italy. Lastly, and probably most notably, Marco is cursed to have the face of a pig, hence his nickname Porco Roso (literally meaning crimson pig).
Although the movie never gives a direct reason for this strange transformation, it's characterization of Marco and explanation of his past help to shed some light on his absurd countenance. Marco is both literally and figuratively a pig.
Because of his disillusionment with humanity, Marco has become cynical and selfish. He lives only for himself and is in constant conflict with the ways of the world around him. Through his rejection of this humanity, Marco has cursed himself to live as a pig.
While Porco may seem seem rough around the edges at first, he is gradually shown throughout the film to truly care about those close to him. He'll risk life and limb to help a companion, and he values the lives of even his enemies. At the beginning of the film, Marco is also a bit sexist. But, over the course of the movie, his prejudices are blown out of the water by the capable women he meets.
Feminism in Porco Rosso
Among the movie's female cast, the character who shines the most is probably Fio Piccolo. An aviation engineer at the young age of 17, Fio is the granddaughter of Marco's mechanic in Italy. When Marco's plane is damaged in a dogfight, it is Fio who redesigns it from scratch and helps rebuild it.
At first, Marco refuses to have his plane designed by a woman. But, Fio's ambition and and intelligence convince him to give her the job. Throughout the movie, Fio proves herself to be a confident and capable young woman. When she accompanies Marco later in the film, she gains both his trust and admiration. Thus, Marco is changed from a sexist pig, into someone who can appreciate Fio's talent.
Fio has been recognized by many for her important role in the film. In an article on
CBR, Courtney McClure speaks about Fio representing women in a male dominated industry, and applauds the film for shedding light on the role of women in the war effort.
But Fio is not the only woman who helps rebuild Marco's plane. In fact, it is an entire team of all female workers that assists Fio. As the men have all sought work elsewhere, Marco's mechanic calls in his female relatives and they set to work on the plane.
Anti-War Themes
As a former member of the Italian Airforce, Marco has seen the horrors of war and lost close friends in fierce battles. Given it's post war setting and Marco's position as an anti-fascist, the film is largely centered in a world that has been greatly affected by war. Though the film never hits its viewers over the head with politics, it does take its time to show just how much war can affect both a country and its people.
The film, like it's titular character, is also decidedly anti-fascist. One of Marco's more famous lines from the movie being, “I’d rather be a pig than a fascist.”
Production Quality
As with other Ghibli films, the production quality is top tier. With fluid animation, charismatic voice acting, and a beautiful soundtrack, the movie has everything it needs to elevate its story.
With a score composed by Joe Hisaishi, each track is something to be remembered. One of my favorite songs from the film is
Bygone Days. This soulful piece hits all the right notes for the film. It feels somehow nostalgic and a little sad at the same time.
The voice actors also do an amazing job bringing each character to life. Specifically I'd like to note Carry Ewles, who plays the American pilot, Curtis. Many know the English actor as Westley from the Princess Bride. But, despite being English, he does an amazing American accent and breathes life into the character of Curtis.
Film Rating
As you might guess by having read this post, I'm quite a fan of this film. I think it does a great job exploring the themes it presents, and creates a lovable cast of interesting and multifaceted characters.
Not only that, but the film utilizes striking hand animation and a beautiful soundtrack to truly bring its story to life.
While it's probably not a film for everyone, and it's certainly not as popular as some other Ghibli films, Porco Rosso is definitely a solid 10/10 in my books. As such, I strongly recommend giving the film a watch.
At the time of writing this, you might even have the opportunity to see it in theaters with Ghibli Fest 2023 happening until the end of October. With these Ghibli films returning to theaters for a short time, I myself have gone to see some again on the big screen, and it's definitely an experience I can recommend.
In his
Ghibli Blog, Daniel Thomas writes that Porco Rosso is a film that embodies many of the great things about Studio Ghibli films, and I'm inclined to wholeheartedly agree. At the end of the day, Porco Rosso just has so many great things going for it, which is why I can confidently place it among my favorite films of all time.
