Monday, February 05, 2018
Kiki's Delivery Service
- Commentary: I was a long time coming to own this film, even though I'd seen it more than a few times, including, and mostly, when my mother was alive. I came, in fact, very close to not owning it. I've seen several of Miyazaki's films but own only three: this one, Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro>. I often enjoy Miyazaki films but, except for the last two in my list, they seem a bit stodgy and predictable, regardless of the seductive animation, contraptions and spirits. Yes, this one seemed stodgy and predictable to me, too, which is why I didn't previously own it. Two conversations and one event occurred, though, that finally convinced me, a few months ago, that I should add it to my collection.
The first conversation took place a few years ago. My Arizona niece told me that she had organized a film club that was going to feature only films written, produced, directed and acted primarily by women. Kiki's Delivery Service was going to be their first feature. "Oh!" I said. "That movie is primarily created by a man, Hayao Miyazaki!" My Arizona niece argued with me that it couldn't be, so I looked it up online while on the phone with her and gave her all the details. I don't know if that film was cancelled from their repertoire. After that incident, she and I didn't discuss the film club, anymore.
The second conversation was an extended one between myself and my Colorado sister. In telling me about her grandson and what he was learning in school, she mentioned that in one of his classes they studied the significance of the female archetypes portrayed in Kiki's Delivery Service. Although I'd seen the movie more than once with Mom, I couldn't remember much about it, it never made much of an impression on me except that Mom loved it. My sister butted up against a brick wall when trying to remember anything about the movie.
The incident was that, because of my conversation with my sister, I decided to check the movie out of the library. The entire system owned only one copy, secured at an obscure branch library, so I had to put it on hold. This copy had been checked out and mishandled so many times that it was unplayable. That's when I decided to order a copy, thinking that, once I viewed it a few times, I'd donate it to the library. I'm sure they would be pleased to own a brand spanking new copy and, being a Disney movie, it's not cheap for them to obtain. So, I've owned the movie for a few months and watched it a couple of times, keeping in mind both conversations I've had about it. I may keep it, I'm not sure. My interest in it, at the moment, is mostly "scholarly", but, after a few more playings, we'll see whether the library ends up with my copy or I do.
By the way, I'm instituting a new category for this movie, coming-of-age. I'm not sure how many movies I own that would fit into that category. It wouldn't surprise me if this is the only one. But, I'll do a quick check.
Update 6/4/2022: I've kept the movie. I will not be turning it over to the library. And, yes, I continue to watch it, at least once a year.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kiki Kirsten Dunst Jiji Phil Hartman Osono Tress MacNeille Ursula Janeane Garofalo Tombo Matthew Lawrence Fukuo Brian Cummings Kokiri, Kiki's Mother Kath Soucie Okino, Kiki's Father Jeff Bennett Madame Debbie Reynolds Barsa Edie McClurg Senior Witch Debi Derryberry Madame's Grandaughter Sherry Lynn
Release Date: 1989
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Labels: animated, coming-of-age1, dramedy1, fantasy2, kirsten-dunst, mom-favorite1, super-hero2