MovieChat Forums > Kurenai no buta (1994) Discussion > Doesn't know what it wants to be

Doesn't know what it wants to be

posted 9 years ago by Pedosh
3 replies | jump to latest

Hi, I watched this film and found myself confused by what it wanted to be. The confusion for me is with how Porco Rosso is a conflicted 'adult' character but is over-shadowed by one dimensional characters and an overly light hearted atmosphere. I found it unwilling to give the protagonist the true rounded background he deserved and the film is imbalanced/confusing as a result.

Granted, Ghibli has mainly made films for children but this film needed to either make Porco less 'human' or allow more 'adult' depiction/discussion. Ultimately I don't understand Porco or the film by the finish as the serious undertones are largely underplayed. I found the punch up at the end quite brutal because the film hadn't wanted to seriously depict violence before.

Having said this I was very impressed with the animation (especially the flight sequences) and I did like this film (good ending too!). However, I think there needed to be a better balance between light and dark for this to have become stronger than the sum of its parts.

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

Interesting assessment.

Can't stop the signal.

[–] Suzume-san 9 years ago

You know that Miyazaki said he made this film for 'tired businessmen'? A relaxation, a gently humorous treat. It certainly isn't intended for children.

I agree with you about the punch-up at the end - but it's better, of course, than the two pilots shooting each other out of the sky. They've come to no lasting harm and indeed they part almost as friends.

[–] DeanSledgehammer 8 years ago

I think it's brilliant for the same reasons.
The story is about survivors guilt. Porco sees himself as garbage being the only survivor from his squadron. I think he might've even left some of his mates to die when he fled and survived. So he sees himself as a pig, so he is a pig.

War, deaths, dark and gloomy, not very cheerful stuff. Miyazaki takes that, but makes it a tiny story in a huge backdrop of war and better yet, in a style even children can watch!
The war and its effects are in the background thorought the movie, but they are not focused on anymore than is necessary for the story.