Category: Screening
Goshu is an awkward and shy cellist who dreams of one day being as great as his idol, Ludwig van Beethoven. Often reprimanded by the conductor, he decides to practice seriously for a big concert. Despite his perseverance, he doesn’t make much progress. Fortunately, he receives help from a group of small animals: a cat, a cuckoo, a badger, and a field mouse. These animals discreetly teach him virtues such as patience, discipline, and the desire to communicate with others.
Isao Takahata (October 29, 1935 – April 5, 2018) was a Japanese director, screenwriter, and producer. As a co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he gained international recognition for his work as a director of Japanese animated films. Born in Ujiyamada, Mie Prefecture, Takahata joined Toei Animation after graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1959. He worked as an assistant director, held various positions over the years, and collaborated with his colleague Hayao Miyazaki until he directed his own film, “The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun” (1968). He continued his collaboration with Miyazaki, directing television series at Nippon Animation such as “Heidi, Girl of the Alps” (1974), “3000 Leagues in Search of Mother” (1976), and “Anne of Green Gables” (1979). In 1985, Takahata, Miyazaki, and others founded Studio Ghibli, where he directed “Grave of the Fireflies” (1988), “Only Yesterday” (1991), “Pom Poko” (1994), and “My Neighbors the Yamadas” (1999). His final film as a director was “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” (2013), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 87th Academy Awards.
