Return to innocence

Arielle 2021-10-19 09:47:43


One day in 2001, I was extremely lonely. I borrowed a film from a classmate’s home that I hadn’t heard of and I didn’t know what the director directed, and I watched it. As a result, my love for this film almost reached the point of madness. I watched it almost every day for the next week. It really means "reading you a thousand times will not get bored."

Leaving aside the plot, the exquisite painting alone made me wish that I would appreciate "Spirited Away" for the first time not on the computer but in the theater. It is different from the general well-made Japanese animation. This cute drawing style, rounded lines and bright colors contrast sharply with the weird storyline. It kind of reminds me of the American animation "South Park (South Park)" ". The simple lines there and a group of elementary school students who do not know the heights of the sky actually pointed out the current affairs, talked about pornography and sex, and did things that are more adult than adults.

Closer to home, the style of "Spirited Away" is completely different from "Southern Park", but the strong contrast between the picture and the plot is equally attractive. In "Spirited Away", the lovely 10-year-old girl Chihiro strayed into the ghost world with her parents, and her parents turned into big pigs because of gluttony. In order to save the whole family, Qianxun had to work for Tang Po Po, who is in charge of the spiritual bath, while giving up her name-which also means giving up herself. In fact, most of the people who work in this bath are lost children, who have given up on themselves, and only see money in their eyes, or the desire for life represented by money.

The happy ending of the cartoon is not unexpected, and Chihiro's love affair with Bai Long is reasonable. But I don't think this is a film about emotions, and even Chihiro's extraordinary courage is not the point. What I saw was a return from beginning to end, a return to innocence and childlike innocence.

I always feel that the bath has a special meaning in this story. The bath was originally a place to wash the dust and purify the soul. The huge river god was moved by Chihiro’s innocence in the bath, and the river god pill was given to her after washing away the pollution; the faceless man must vomit his desire for possession in the bath to recover The true colors of oneself. The reason why Chihiro was able to remain unmoved by desire and temptation from beginning to end is because she has maintained her innocence from beginning to end.

Innocence is valuable because it is stubbornness, or attachment, that is not changed by the external environment. The biggest difference between adults and children is not the soundness of the mind and the clarity of the mind, but the increasing desire to possess and the loss of happiness. Because there are too many temptations in the adult world, and adults often judge whether they are successful and whether they should feel happy based on their own eyes. In the child's innocent heart, the whole world is a reward for himself, laugh when he is happy, and cry when he is sad. Life is simple, so happy. Chihiro's salvation and being rescued all come from her innocence. Even in the midst of desire, a childlike heart can always lead her out of her confusion. So this return to self is not only because of Chihiro's courage, but also because of her innocence from the heart.

From then on, whenever I was confused about life, I would think of Chihiro, the sad faceless man. I think that Hayao Miyazaki's contrasting painting and narrative styles are probably meant to convey this message of innocence and desire to the audience.

Having said that, I suddenly remembered a piece about Sanmao.

Sanmao was already a celebrity when he returned to Taiwan. Speech, dinner, non-stop meeting with this and that. One day at the dinner, everyone was hustling with polite New Year greetings. Sanmao suddenly said to everyone: "Shall we be children?" The people present carefully answered, "Okay. How do you pretend to be a child?" Sanmao sighed, smiled at everyone, and then said Forget it, bow your head and continue eating.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help sighing deeply. Because children don't need to pretend, just show the innocence in their hearts. However, how many pure memories are left in our hearts as we grow old year after year?

So, when we still miss innocence and cherish childlike innocence, take a look at this "Spirited Away". This is actually the secret key to happiness!

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Extended Reading
  • Lynn 2022-03-24 09:01:11

    Like faceless men, his feelings for Chihiro are pure, and he wants to give her whatever he thinks is good. After reading it, I feel that the environment is really important.

  • Effie 2021-10-20 18:58:55

    It’s impossible to forget the things that have happened, but I just can’t remember... You will help me remember who I am, right?

Spirited Away quotes

  • Lin: Sen! Sen, where are you?

    Chihiro: [from beside the Stink Spirit] Over here!

    Lin: Don't worry... stay right where you are, I'm coming to get you! You're gonna be fine, I won't let him hurt you.

    Chihiro: I think he needs help! It feels like there's a thorn in his side!

  • Zeniba: [Haku breaks the paper bird she came in] Oh, paper cut!

    [Splits in two and disappears]