The Boy and the Heron: at what age can we see the new Miyazaki?

On a scale from Ponyo to Mononoke, where does the Heron fit in?

That’s it ! The Boy and the Heron finally releases in French theaters this Wednesday, November 1st. Obviously, the new filmHayao Miyazaki is an event. “The spiritual epic of a young bereaved boy, which fascinates the eye as much as it questions the future and the legacy that the Japanese master will leave”, according to the review by Première. Certainly, but a question can legitimately be asked: what audience is the film aimed at? Let’s put it more bluntly, with its phantasmagorical visions of fascist parakeets, monstrous herons and Dantesque fires, wouldn’t the film be aimed at children at all? The CNC classified the film in France as being “All audiences”, which is ultimately not surprising since in our country all of Miyazaki’s films since Porco Rosso (his sixth feature was the first to be released in theaters here, in 1995) were classified “All audiences”.

The Boy and the Heron: Miyazaki’s Winning Return (review)

The classification of the film is in any case much stricter in the United States: the film is not recommended for unaccompanied children under 13, “because of some violent elements, some bloody images, and the presence of tobacco” (“for some violent content/bloody images and smoking”). Rated PG-13 just like Princess Mononoke -otherwise more violent- and The wind picks up -otherwise more complex, and not recommended for under 13s “for some disturbing images and smoking”. For his part, Ponyo on the cliff was “all audiences” and Spirited away rated PG, for “parental consent”. Whether you agree with the American classification office or not, this may help you see things more clearly. In any case, don’t expect a new My Neighbor Totoro Or Ponyo on the cliff : The Boy and the Heron is clearly a dark and mature work, which the editors of Première take the liberty of recommending to young film buffs aged around 10 years old.