Leonardo DiCaprio is said to have told famous director Martin Scorsese, who worked with him on films including Shutter Island and The Wolf of Wall Street, to go see Hayao Miyazaki’s famous Spirited Away.
In a Letterboxd interview, posted on YouTube, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese reflect on the films that influenced their collaboration, with DiCaprio’s only suggestion to Scorsese being the highly recommended Spirited Away. Miyazaki’s critically acclaimed. DiCaprio said, “I was asked what movies I recommended to you (Scorsese), but considering you’ve seen every movie ever made up until 1980, it’s hard to say. Also, maybe Spirited Away, a Miyazaki movie and maybe Princess Mononoke.” Scorsese confirmed: “He told me to watch Spirited Away.”
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Unfortunately, Scorsese did not reveal his views on Spirited Away in the interview, and the two moved on to discuss some of the other films that influenced the six films they worked on together over three decades. via: Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), Shutter Island (2010), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and their most recent work, Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). They also discuss Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1974 version), Scarface and A Place in the Sun, among other notable titles.
Fans in the comments section were excited to see that DiCaprio introduced Spirited Away to Scorsese, and many expressed disappointment that they didn’t discuss the film further. One user suggested that this may be because (according to Steve Alpert’s memoir Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man: 15 Years at Studio Ghibli), Miyazaki declined Scorsese’s invitation to meet when they were both in New York City.
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Other users took the opportunity to point out how some of Miyazaki’s films align with DiCaprio’s views on the environment and climate change. Princess Mononoke in particular, mentioned by DiCaprio in his discussion with Scorsese and previously announced as one of his “all-time favorite films,” focuses on environmental protection and its sacredness to humanity. Notably, DiCaprio used his long-awaited acceptance speech at the Academy Awards to speak out on the issue of climate change, saying, “Let us not take this planet for granted. course. I don’t take tonight for granted.”
DiCaprio is an avowed anime fan and has previously starred in two live-action anime remakes: Akira and Ninja Scroll. Akira is said to still be in production and has no release date yet, while Ninja Scroll has not received any official announcements or updates since 2008. Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away are both available to download. Stream via Max and Prime Video. Miyazaki and Golden Globe winner’s latest film, The Boy and the Heron, is now playing in U.S. theaters
Spirit land
During her family’s move to the suburbs, a moody 10-year-old girl finds herself in a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, a world where humans are transformed into monsters.
Release date July 20, 2001
Cast Rumi Hîragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi
Running time 125 minutes
Studio Ghibli Studio
Source: YouTube
