ZombieTrex’s review published on Letterboxd:
Miyazaki: I make films to inspire young girls.
Me, a grown ass dude in college: I relate to this so fucking much.
It’s insane that a film that I loved already is only now starting to click with me, and that’s entirely because of where I am at in life right now. At this time, I feel exactly like Kiki; having left home to start a new life, leaving behind friends, and not knowing where to fit in. It’s a time where no clear direction is given; it's now up to me to choose the course. What do I do now? Where do I go? Who do I spend it with? Overall, I found Kiki’s strive for friendship to be most relatable to me. Amongst all the confusion in her life, she just wants someone to relate to, but is often scared off by those who are more than willing to accept her, but she pushes them away because of her own insecurities. It’s only when she finds confidence in herself that she is able to branch out and find her own way, and that’s exactly what I’m struggling with at the moment.
But honestly, after revisiting this masterpiece when I needed it the most, I just feel a lot more willing to take those next steps, to truly put myself out there. And that’s the true power of Kiki’s Delivery Service: it encourages everyone of every age to push past the hard times and to reassure themselves that, sometime down the road, everything will be ok. Even if times are tough, believing in ourselves can help us get through it all. It’s up to us to become the best version of ourselves, and it’s that theme that feels integral to nearly all of Miyazaki’s masterful filmography. He may make his film’s with a younger crowd in mind, but I think that anyone can relate to this movie, no matter the age, and that’s certainly what happened with me on rewatch. Kiki’s Delivery Service is the type of film I would recommend to nearly anyone; it’s just that enjoyable and heartfelt of an experience.
