The Boy and the Heron 2023

As the war-torn skies of 1943 Tokyo fill with the wail of sirens, a desperate Mahito Maki (Luca Padovan) bursts forth from his home, racing towards the inferno that has engulfed the hospital where his mother, Hisako, lies trapped. The frantic cries of “Mother!” echo through the desolate streets as Mahito’s panic-stricken face contorts with anguish.

The devastating loss of Hisako soon follows, and a grief-stricken Mahito accompanies his father, Shoichi (Christian Bale), to their arsenal in the countryside, where they begin anew amidst the chaos of war. It is here that Shoichi remarries Natsuko (Gemma Chan), who carries a secret: she is with child.

As Mahito settles into his new life at Natsuko’s sprawling estate, surrounded by seven enigmatic maids, he becomes captivated by the elusive Grey Heron (Robert Pattinson) that flits about the grounds. His pursuit of the bird leads him to discover a mysterious tower, built by Natsuko’s grandfather before her birth, which holds secrets and ancient mysteries.

However, the cruel realities of war soon take their toll on Mahito, who finds himself bullied at school. In a desperate attempt to assert his strength, he inflicts harm upon himself, only to be whisked away from the torment by his father. As he recovers from his self-inflicted wounds, Mahito stumbles upon a cherished gift from his mother: the book “How Do You Live?” – a poignant reminder of her love and wisdom.

But the shadows of Hisako’s fiery demise continue to haunt Mahito, manifesting in vivid nightmares that leave him shaken. It is during this tumultuous period that he encounters the enigmatic Grey Heron once more, who taunts him with cryptic messages and beckons Mahito towards a mysterious realm. As Mahito follows the bird, he finds himself face-to-face with an eerie gathering of frogs, which serves as a harbinger of further calamity.

The estate’s maids, sensing impending doom, frantically flee towards the tower, leaving behind an air of foreboding. And as Mahito watches in horror, Natsuko vanishes into the very heart of the mysterious structure, beckoning him to follow.

As Mahito’s journey unfolds, a curious maid tags along beside him as he approaches the enigmatic tower in search of the elusive Heron. The Heron’s mystical guidance leads them into the tower’s depths, where an unsettling illusion awaits - Hisako’s ethereal presence materializes before Mahito, only to dissolve upon his touch. Indignant and perplexed, Mahito reprimands the Heron, who responds by summoning a diminutive, bald figure with a piercing cry. The Heron’s beak is pierced by a makeshift arrow crafted from one of its own feathers, transforming it into a short, pudgy man. As if in tandem, Mahito and the maid are drawn into the floor, accompanied by their enigmatic guide.

Mahito finds himself transported to an unfamiliar island, where a flock of ravenous pelicans threatens his existence. Kiriko (Florence Pugh), a seasoned sailor woman, intervenes, repelling the birds and chastising Mahito for his thoughtless actions. As they navigate her boat back to her home, Kiriko shares tales of phantoms that haunt this mystical realm.

Upon arriving at her abode, Kiriko tends to the Warawara, small, marshmallow-like spirits that rely on her nourishment to ascend beyond the spirit world and take their first breaths. Mahito joins Kiriko in preparing a feast of fish, gradually piecing together the truth - that this sailor woman is none other than the same maid who accompanied him into the spirit realm, her dwelling filled with tiny figurines of the other old maids she shares her life with.

As night falls, Mahito and Kiriko bear witness to the Warawara’s ascension, only for a flock of pelicans to descend upon them. The nocturnal chaos is interrupted by Lady Himi (Karen Fukuhara), a young girl wielding fiery powers. Later, Mahito encounters the lead Noble Pelican (Willem Dafoe), whose dying words reveal that the pelicans’ consumption of the Warawara was an act of desperate survival.

As Mahito and Kiriko share a meal with the Heron for one final time, their paths diverge once more, as the Heron’s enigmatic presence lingers, guiding Mahito toward further revelations in this mystical realm.

As Mahito navigates this uncharted territory, Himi’s expertise proves invaluable in repairing the Heron’s beak, liberating it from the constraints of its natural form. The duo’s reunion is short-lived, as they’re soon parted once more. This time, Mahito finds himself in the midst of a flock of gargantuan parakeets, who claim to be escorting him to find Natsuko - but their true intentions are far more sinister. Himi intervenes with her pyrokinetic powers, scattering the would-be predators and revealing their deceit.

Enlightened by Himi’s words, Mahito learns that Natsuko is her sister and that the Tower Master - a revered figure with ties to the celestial bodies - created this realm and its portal systems. Himi’s determination to help Mahito grows, as she leads him toward a door that promises to return him to his own world. However, their approach is met by the frantic searches of Shoichi and the maids for both Mahito and Natsuko, while the parakeets pursue them relentlessly.

Mahito’s resolve falters not, and he chooses to remain in this mystical realm, driven by a desire to reunite with his missing companion. As the chase ensues, Mahito succumbs to unconsciousness. Meanwhile, one of the maids shares a piece of the tower’s troubled history, revealing that it was forged from a meteorite - an event that preceded Hisako’s mysterious disappearance for a year before her enigmatic return.

Mahito is subsequently summoned to meet with the enigmatic Granduncle, who sees potential in him as a successor to operate this world. The elder hopes to tap into Mahito’s bloodline and lack of malevolent intent, believing that his new world can be freed from the horrors that plague the real one. Mahito acknowledges the scar he bears, a symbol of his own darkness.

As Mahito awakens from his reverie, he finds himself captive to the parakeets. The Heron, ever watchful, infiltrates their ranks and dispatches several foes before freeing its human companion. Reunited with Himi, they converge on the chamber where Natsuko is being held. However, as Mahito attempts to liberate his captive companion, the energy within the room envelops both him and Natsuko in bandages - a phenomenon that reduces her to an icy demeanor, as she spurns Mahito with contempt.

Mahito’s declaration that Natsuko will be his mother is met with a sudden reversal, as her animosity dissipates, replaced by a return to her natural state.

As Mahito and the Heron embark on a daring rescue mission to liberate Himi from the clutches of the Parakeet King (Dave Bautista), they unwittingly stumble into a complex web of intrigue. The enigmatic ruler is secretly collaborating with Granduncle, manipulating events to maintain control over his army and keep the world in a state of precarious balance. Once free, Mahito is faced with an existential dilemma: should he continue down the path of Granduncle’s tutelage, or forge his own destiny and preserve the friendships that have been forged amidst chaos? The Parakeet King, incensed by Mahito’s reluctance to conform, unleashes a devastating blow by toppling Granduncle’s elaborate tower, sending shockwaves throughout the fabric of reality. As the world begins its precipitous descent into disintegration, Granduncle vanishes into the void, his final words a poignant farewell to his descendants. Himi, overcome with grief, bids Mahito and Natsuko adieu, revealing her true identity as a younger Hisako – a revelation that sets in motion a chain of events that will forever alter the course of their lives.

As the apocalyptic landscape unfolds, Mahito and his companions make a desperate bid for survival, fleeing through the doors just as the very foundations of reality come crashing down. In the aftermath of the catastrophe, Mahito is reunited with Shoichi and Natsuko, while Kiriko returns to the fold, her youthful self having bestowed upon Mahito a poignant reminder of their shared past. The Heron, ever the sage mentor, offers words of wisdom, cautioning Mahito that he will eventually forget the world they left behind – a prospect that serves as a bittersweet reminder of the indelible bonds forged in the crucible of adventure.

Two years later, Mahito returns to Tokyo with Shoichi, Natsuko, and his younger brother, their journey a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the human spirit’s capacity to persevere in the face of adversity.