With little fanfare, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is released today in select theaters across the U.S. and Canada. This Studio Ghibli film is directed by Isao Takahata, best known for his directorial work on Grave of the Fireflies among others.
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya tells the story of Kaguya. She was discovered in the forest by an old man, a bamboo cutter by trade, except she looked like a miniaturized little girl who can fit in the palm of a hand. He took her home to his wife and raised her as their child. Kaguya grew much faster than a normal person, and before long she grew up into a beautiful woman. When the old man comes across some unexpected wealth, they moved to the capital city. News of Kaguya’s beauty spread across the city and suitors soon came to their doors. Kaguya finds herself questioning the direction of her life in the midst of all this and why the sight of the moon fills her with sorrow for reasons she can’t understand.
The story is based off a Japanese folklore The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Western audiences are unlikely to be familiar with the folklore. Fans of Sesame Street on the other hand have a leg up.
The movie’s release date and locations are somewhat scattered. Here is a handy list of where and when the The Tale of The Princess Kaguya will be shown.
OCTOBER 17
- New York, NY – IFC Center
- Los Angeles, CA – ArcLight Hollywood
- Toronto, ON – TIFF Bell Lightbox
OCTOBER 24
- San Francisco, CA – AMC Metreon
- San Francisco, CA – Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
- Irvine, CA – Regal Edwards University Town Center
- Pasadena, CA – Laemmle Playhouse
- Berkeley, CA – Landmark Shattuck Cinema
- Santa Cruz, CA – The Nick
- Portland, OR – Regal Fox Tower
- Seattle, WA – Landmark Harvard Exit
- Phoenix, AZ – Harkins Camelview
- Nelson, BC – Civic Theatre
OCTOBER 31
- San Diego, CA – Reading Gaslamp Stadium
- Philadelphia, PA – Landmark Ritz at the Bourse
- Baltimore, MD – The Charles
- Charlotte, NC – Regal Ballantyne Village Stadium
- Atlanta, GA – UA Tara Cinemas
- Houston, TX – Sundance Cinemas
- Austin, TX – Regal Arbor
- Dallas, TX – Angelika Film Center
- Honolulu, HI – Kahala Theatres
- Vancouver, BC – Vancity Theatre
NOVEMBER 7
- Providence, RI – Cable Car Cinema
- Amherst, MA – Amherst Cinema
- Cincinatti, OH – T.B.A.
- Raleigh, NC – The Raleigh Grande
- Knoxville, TN – Regal Downtown West
- Memphis, TN – T.B.A.
- Santa Fe, NM – CCA Santa Fe
- Tucson, AZ – The Loft Cinema
- Bellingham, WA – Pickford Film Center
NOVEMBER 14
- Madison, WI – Sundance Cinemas
- New Haven, CT – Bowtie Criterion Cinemas
- Ithaca, NY – Cinemapolis Theater
- Charlottesville, VA – Regal Downtown Mall
- Nashville, TN – The Belcourt
- Key West, FL – Key West Film Festival
- Salt Lake City, UT – Broadway Centre Cinemas
- Victoria, BC – The Vic Theatre
NOVEMBER 28
- Hartford, CT – Real Art Ways
DECEMBER 12
- Columbus, OH – Sundance Cinemas
