A witch curses the hat-maker Sophie into a ninety-year-old body, so she leaves town and bluffs her way into the household of the vain wizard Howl, whose castle stomps across the hills on chicken legs. Loosely from Diana Wynne Jones's novel, the film bolts a war onto the romance: Howl is dodging a draft into a conflict he finds obscene, and Miyazaki, who hated the Iraq war while making this, lets the bombers come. The castle itself is the best gag and the best image, a junk heap of pipes and doors that breathes. Sophie gets braver as she gets older, which is the whole trick.
Karamazovian is human-curated and reader-supported. Become a member to read the full writing — search, lists, and your own tree open with it.
Become a member — $2.99 / month →New here? Create account →
Already a member? Sign in →