A princess’s crime and punishment|Nov. 23, 2013|Japan|137 Min.|PG
Genre: Animation;Drama;Fantasy
Description: The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is a 2013 Japanese animated film. The story follows Sanuki no Miyatsuko, a bamboo cutter, who discovers a tiny girl inside a glowing bamboo shoot. Believing her to be a divine being, he and his wife decide to raise her as their own, naming her “Princess.” The girl grows rapidly and is nicknamed “Takenoko” (meaning “little bamboo”) by the village children. Sutemaru, the oldest among her friends, forms a close bond with her.
Later, the bamboo cutter finds gold and fine cloth in the bamboo grove, much like when he discovered the girl. Taking this as a sign of her royal destiny, he moves the family to the capital to raise her as a noblewoman. The girl struggles with the constraints of her new life, longing for her simpler days in the countryside.
Upon coming of age, she is formally named “Princess Kaguya.” During a celebration, she overhears guests mocking her father’s efforts to turn a peasant girl into a noble. Heartbroken, she flees to the mountains in search of Sutemaru and her friends but finds they have moved away. After collapsing in the snow, she awakens back at the celebration.
As Kaguya grows in beauty, she attracts several suitors. Five noblemen attempt to win her hand by claiming to possess mythical treasures. Two use counterfeits, one gives up, and another lies. The fifth suitor dies in his quest, leaving Kaguya in despair. Even the Emperor becomes infatuated with her and tries to kidnap her, but she convinces him to leave.
The film explores themes of identity, freedom, and the struggle between societal expectations and personal desires.
Cast director: Isao Takahata
Cast actor: Aki Asakura, Kengo Kora, Takeo Chii, Nobuko Miyamoto, Atsuko Takahata, Tomoko Tabata, Shinosuke Tatekawa, Takaya Kamikawa, Hikaru Ijūin, Ryûdô Uzaki
Original name: かぐや姫の物語