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Science. Art. Film.: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Wed
20
Wed 20 May 6:00 PM
Arc Cinema
Allocated Seating
117 Mins | Science.Art.Film
May
1984 | DCP | JPN | D: Hayao Miyazaki
Warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä (Sumi Shimamoto) desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.
Miyazaki’s post-apocalyptic fantasy begins 1000 years after the Seven Days of Fire which sees Earth poisoned by war – an ecocide that created a toxic jungle whose creatures humans fear.
Blending epic adventure with ecological reflection, the film frames heroism as empathy rather than conquest. Partly inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s ‘Earthsea', and elevated by Joe Hisaishi’s score, the film’s emotional clarity and moral seriousness have made it a cornerstone of modern animation.
‘A visionary film that treats environmentalism not as doctrine but as human responsibility.’
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Join us after the film for a compelling discussion with an expert on East Asian culture and a filmmaker-scholar. Together, they explore how the film’s production and philosophy engage with technology and environmental urgency.
Professor Roald Maliangkay from the ANU School of Culture, History & Language, is fascinated by what drives the consumption of leisure and associated products, the convergence of major cultural phenomena, and the mechanics of related policies. He analyses Korean cultural industries, performance and fandom from the early twentieth century to the present.
Dr Robert Hardcastle is a Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead for Film Production at the University of Canberra. He is interested in how advanced conceptual thinking can help address issues around sustainability and exclusivity in industrial filmmaking. He also explores how film can offer new perspectives on the past, highlighting silenced voices, more-than-human connections, and diverse temporalities and memories. Rob is also a filmmaker and has numerous screen credits in cinema and broadcast. Rob has previously worked as an audio producer, recording and mixing in a wide range of environments, from jungles and forests to recording studios and concert halls.
Moderator:
Dr Anna-Sophie Jürgens is a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU. She is also the Head of POPSICULE, ANU’s Science in Popular Culture and Entertainment Hub. Dr Jürgens’ research explores cultural meanings of science, the history of (violent) clowns and mad scientists, science and humour, and the interface between science and (public) art.
Presented as part of our Science. Art. Film. series in partnership with the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University.
Warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä (Sumi Shimamoto) desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.
Miyazaki’s post-apocalyptic fantasy begins 1000 years after the Seven Days of Fire which sees Earth poisoned by war – an ecocide that created a toxic jungle whose creatures humans fear.
Blending epic adventure with ecological reflection, the film frames heroism as empathy rather than conquest. Partly inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s ‘Earthsea', and elevated by Joe Hisaishi’s score, the film’s emotional clarity and moral seriousness have made it a cornerstone of modern animation.
‘A visionary film that treats environmentalism not as doctrine but as human responsibility.’
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Join us after the film for a compelling discussion with an expert on East Asian culture and a filmmaker-scholar. Together, they explore how the film’s production and philosophy engage with technology and environmental urgency.
Professor Roald Maliangkay from the ANU School of Culture, History & Language, is fascinated by what drives the consumption of leisure and associated products, the convergence of major cultural phenomena, and the mechanics of related policies. He analyses Korean cultural industries, performance and fandom from the early twentieth century to the present.
Dr Robert Hardcastle is a Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead for Film Production at the University of Canberra. He is interested in how advanced conceptual thinking can help address issues around sustainability and exclusivity in industrial filmmaking. He also explores how film can offer new perspectives on the past, highlighting silenced voices, more-than-human connections, and diverse temporalities and memories. Rob is also a filmmaker and has numerous screen credits in cinema and broadcast. Rob has previously worked as an audio producer, recording and mixing in a wide range of environments, from jungles and forests to recording studios and concert halls.
Moderator:
Dr Anna-Sophie Jürgens is a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU. She is also the Head of POPSICULE, ANU’s Science in Popular Culture and Entertainment Hub. Dr Jürgens’ research explores cultural meanings of science, the history of (violent) clowns and mad scientists, science and humour, and the interface between science and (public) art.
Presented as part of our Science. Art. Film. series in partnership with the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University.
May