While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."
It was OK. Certainly one of Ghibli/Miyazaki’s more “mature” entries in terms of the themes but still plenty of Alice in Wonderland whimsy/whackiness.
Sadly, I’ve reached the age where I am burdened with recognising voices but being completely unable to recall where from. Sad times.
★★★½
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