For my film review I watched Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki, and it did not disappoint. I've numerous Asian movies this past month, but I wasn't quite processing the connections to Spanish. Now that's I'm actually in the classroom and having to plan ahead, I've connected the Day of the Dead with Spirited Away.
In the movie, Chihiro, a young Japanese girl, goes on this complicated adventure and is transported to another world of spirits. She is "Spirited Away." She's enslaved in this bathhouse and so the plot unfolds as she tries to escape her work contract.
The theme of food and the ancestors became especially appealing to me when thinking in terms of what food represents in this films. From the beginning, food seems to have an either good or evil quality. Chihiro's parents are seen chopping away and transformed into pigs, which is horrifying to Chihiro and this viewer. food is also shown as a source of comfort and community. Haku (friend and later revealed to be the Spirit of the River) urges Chihiro to eat food from the spirit world or else she'll disappear.
Spirited Away is a glimpse of Japanese relation to their ancestors and the spirits. Highly recommended
You are here
Food and the Ancestors
08/31/2014 06:54 AM
#1
Food and the Ancestors
Jessica,
Thank you SO much for making the connection. I saw this film when it came out and loved it; and, now I can share it in the classroom. I am thinking of using clips to reinforce notions of ancestor veneration for AP World History as well.