2. Film: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind Topic: Pollution and Industrialization By: Anthony Copple, Erica Smith And Vanessa Robertson-Rojas Group I Presentation
8. Film History -Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind was originally a manga series by Hayao Miyazaki and was published 1982 to 1994. -This original series was then turned into a film in 1984 by Miyazaki, using only the first 16 chapters for the story line. -Miyazaki based Nausicaa, the lead role, on the generous Greek princess of the same name from the Odyssey, and an insect loving Japanese princess from a story written in the Heian period.
9. The film begins with Nausicaa, our heroine, exploring the Fukai jungle. She admires it’s beauty even though it’s poisonous spores could kill her if she took off her protective mask and gloves. Nausicaa lives in the Valley of the Wind, an oceanfront settlement in post-apocalyptic times. Civilization was destroyed during “The Seven Day Fire”, a war fought between God Soldiers and the insects, Fukai spores, and Ohmus. Film Synopsis Shortly after her excursion Nausicaa is awoken in the middle of the night to invasion by a Torumekian transport led by Princess Kushana of Torumekia. During the invasion her father is killed, and Nausicaa kills several of the soldiers responsible. She is horrified by this act, and continues to renounce killing throughout the film. The Torumekians take over the castle, and begin trying to re-grow a God Soldier and use it to further their war with the surrounding Fukai, insects, and Ohmus. Instead of supporting this Nausicaa explores how the poisonous ecosystem works in effort to find a way to coexist. A third tribe, The Pejit injure and lead a baby Ohmu towards the Valley of the Wind with the hopes that a horde of enrages adult Ohmus will follow and destroy the Torumekians. Nausicaa sees this and tries to set the baby Ohmu free before the horde reaches her people and the occupying Torumekians. The Torumekians order the God Soldier to attack the horde, but quickly expires, and the horde is just more enraged. They stampede over the baby and Nausicaa and both are assumed dead. But suddenly the Ohmu stop…they begin to part, and heal Nausicaa, and they then retreat with the baby Ohmu. There are then shots of life resuming in the Valley of the Wind, but now they live in harmony with nature.
10. BEGINNING Clip 1: This clip is from the beginning of the film, and provides insight to the world the Nausicaa and her countrymen live in. (Click to view)
11. Clip 2: MEMORY Here we see a dream Nausicaa has of a memory. She is a child playing with an Ohmu, and it is taken from her. This clip demonstrates her different approach to nature, which plays a large role in the choices she makes later on. Her character is illustrated through her actions and ideas.
12. Pollution and Industrialization in the Film Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind addresses the struggle that occurs between the large forces of nature and man when man ignores the inherent principles and power present in the natural world. This film shows how developing a more effective approach can allow mediation and coexistence instead of conflict and war with the example of pollution and the way plants and animals react to a destroyed habitat.
13. -Nausicaa is born into a world where nature is dangerous and threatening. -In this film insects, Ohmus, and plants have developed defensive mechanisms in an effort to prevent themselves from human caused pollution, thus their danger. -Humans in return try to kill, burn, or other side eliminate the parts of nature that are acting defensively. -Instead of following the lead of others, she begins to search for an alternative solution to the conflict humans are having with nature. -Choosing a less violent route comes with a different set of struggles, and Nausicaa discovers this and makes a personal sacrifice to overcome those struggles. Nausicaa’s action do a world of good, and an era of understanding begins Key Points
