Stunning skies, gliding airplanes, and a pilot with a magically transformed face in Hayao Miyazaki’s most «grown-up» feature.
Former World War I fighter ace Marco Pagot is now a bounty hunter chasing a grotesque gang of pirates across the Adriatic Sea. His involvement in the war has changed him like a curse: he now has a pig’s snout for a face and his name is Porco Rosso (Red Pig). He flies a red seaplane, lives a secluded life on an island, and sometimes visits a hotel bar run by his old friend Gina—the only person who remembers his human face. Porco’s seaplane is damaged in a battle with an American pilot hired by the pirates, and young mechanic Fio fixes it. To get the pay for her work, Fio accompanies Porco on his flight to the island where vengeful pirates await them.
The drawn world of Porco Rosso is based on Europe during World War I and the rise of fascism in Italy. The rebellious pilot refuses to return to the army and flees from the secret police, choosing to be a bounty hunter and deal with stupid but in fact harmless pirates instead. The only magical element in this world is the strange curse that has turned Porco’s face into a snout—a metaphor of war trauma or perhaps a sign that the dead pilot has returned to the world of the living as a spirit. Despite its serious subject matter, Porco Rosso is a very Miyazaki film. Its characters bring to mind some of the magical creatures from his other works. They are funny and often kind to others, and the sky and the sea look stunning accompanied by a score by Joe Hisaishi.
Porco Rosso
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Japan, 1992. 94 min
12+