When we think of Studio Ghibli, certain films immediately come to mind! *Spirited Away*, *Howl’s Moving Castle*, *Princess Mononoke*, and *Ponyo on the Cliff*. These gems have shaped the childhoods and early adult lives of thousands of fans around the world. And of course, France is no exception! But some films produced by the famous animation studio have completely fallen through the cracks. Such is the case with *Whisper of the Heart*, directed by Yoshifumi Kondo, which has never been shown in our theaters… On November 4, that will finally change—and in its most beautiful, remastered version! Here’s the scoop!
A Ghibli film that has never been shown in theaters in France
Released 31 years ago in Japan, *Whisper of the Heart* is the only film by Yoshifumi Kondo, who passed away suddenly three years later following an aneurysm. Available only on streaming platforms, this feature film has simply never been shown in France…
And that’s a real shame, because it’s absolutely magnificent. We follow the adventures of Shizuku, a 14-year-old girl who loves to read. One day, she realizes that a boy named Seiji is always borrowing the same books she does! Intrigued, Shizuku eventually meets him and discovers a passionate young man who dreams of becoming a luthier. Their budding romance gives rise to a lovely tale, in which each of them inspires the other to reach for their dreams.
Shown to French audiences for the first time on November 4, this film features a stunning 4K restoration. It will be accompanied by a short film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, just as it was when it was first released 31 years ago: *On Your Mark*.