The story follows ten-year-old Chihiro, who travels with her parents to a mysterious, abandoned town on the way to her new home. When her parents are turned into pigs by a curse, Chihiro is left alone in a world full of ghosts, gods and mystical creatures. In order to save her parents, she has to work in an eerie bathhouse run by the powerful witch Yubaba. What at first seems like nothing more than an adventure develops into a profound journey about self-discovery, courage and the importance of friendship. Miyazaki creates a fantastical world filled with attention to detail and fantastic creativity - from the vivid, bizarre characters to the breathtaking landscapes. Spirited Away is more than just an animated film; it is an allegory of childhood that plays with themes of loss, growth and responsibility. The rich symbolism and emotional depth make the movie an anime classic.

Loan of the film print with kind support of Werkstattkino

Children are observed secretly while watching a play. Attention is centred on a three-year-old on his first visit to a theatre performance. His face seems to reflect all that is to be expected in life: joy, fear, despair, fascination. The film is uncut, a role of 35-mm film. At the end of filming, the boy was ten minutes older, as is the viewer after the screening.

Loan of the film print with kind support of the Latvian State Archive