Martin Scorsese is a real living encyclopedia of the 7th art. However, even a master such as he has not seen everything, and it was Leonardo DiCaprio who made him discover this precious film signed by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time!
Martin Scorsese’s deep love for cinema is undeniable. A true enthusiast of the history of cinema, he also took at heart to preserve this heritage through his film Foundation, created in 1990, and from his World Cinema Project project. This last work to restore exceptional films which occupy a unique place in the world heritage of cinema.
Thus, the legendary director is full of praise for his favorite films, whether classics as between the sky and the hell of Akira Kurosawa or more modern films like I SAW the TV Glow by Jane Schoenbrun. Leonardo DiCaprio, one of his frequent collaborators, even made him discover the work of another filmmaker, also considered a legend in its own right: Hayao Miyazaki.
Metropolitan Filmexport Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio on the set of “Wall Street wolf” (2013)
Following the release of Killers of the Flower Moon in 2023, DiCaprio and Scorsese granted an interview to Letterboxd (via Collider) to discuss the films that influenced their work. If most of the interview is devoted to the films that Scorsese scored for DiCaprio before starting to work on a project, the actor revealed having proposed Chihiro’s trip to Scorsese himself.
“” “We are supposed to talk about the films we have made and the works that influenced them. I was asked to talk about the films I had made you discover, but knowing that you saw all the films made since 1980, it’s really difficult to say! Apart from the trip of Chihiro, Miyazaki’s films and maybe Princess Mononoké”Said DiCaprio.
“” “It is the journey of Chihiro that you advised me to watch”, Exclaimed Scorsese, visibly delighted with this discovery of the Ghibli studio.
Although the director has not given his full opinion on Chihiro’s journey,, Leonardo DiCAPRI could not have chosen best film to make him discover Miyazaki’s work. Scorsese is particularly a fan of Japanese cinema, a taste that he shares in his personal rankings. Among his favorite foreign films, there are no less than 7 Japanese films, including the masterpiece of Yasujirō Ozu, travels to Tokyo (1953), at the top of the list. A passion that proves that even a great master like Scorsese always remains in search of new works to discover.
Miyazaki at his peak
Released in Japan in 2001, Chihiro’s journey marked the history of cinema, surpassing Titanic at the Japanese box office by attracting more than 17 million spectators at the time. In mid-October of that same year, he became the first non-American film to cross the 200 million dollar revenue mark, even before its release in Europe and North America. The film also won the Oscar for the best animated film – and is the only animated film drawn by hand to have won this award -, as well as the golden bear in Berlin.
Chihiro’s journey follows Chihiro, a 10 -year -old girl, who moves with her parents to a new house. But when his father takes a shortcut, Chihiro and his parents find themselves trapped in a world populated by spirits. They cannot run away because the witch Yubaba transformed Chihiro’s parents into pigs and literally stole her name.
Ghibli studio The trip of Chihiro (2001)
The film has everything that characterizes Miyazaki’s films: a breathtaking animation, a unique initiatory story and mystical elements that occupy an important place in history. For Miyazaki, Chihiro’s journey was a work of passion, he who developed the film inspired by his summers spent with the family.
“” “I created a heroine who is an ordinary girl, someone with whom the public can sympathize”, He also said by evoking the sources of inspiration for the film.
DiCaprio, fan of Miyazaki
It is not surprising that Leonardo DiCAPRI chose to present Chihiro’s journey has Martin Scorsesehe who is a long -standing anime fan. Not only was he hired to produce live-action versions of Akira and Ninja Scroll, but he also quoted Princess Mononoke of Miyazaki as one of his favorite films of all time. This latest film conveys a strong environmental message, like DiCaprio’s commitment to the fight against climate change.
Ghibli studio Princess Mononoké (1997)
As for Scorsese and Miyazaki, the legend has it that the two filmmakers almost met in the past. Steve Alpert, former director of the international division of the Ghibli studio, revealed in his memoirs entitled Sharing a house with the never-ending man: 15 years at studio ghibli May Miyazaki had completely refused to have a drink with Scorsese!
Anyway, the fact that Leonardo DiCAPRI succeeded in convincing Martin Scorsese to see one of the best films in Hayao Miyazaki is simply exciting.
The masterpiece of Chihiro’s journey is to be reviewed on Netflix or VOD.
Discover the exciting (and complete) exchange between Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hujigpukq4
