Miyazaki awarded French honours

[Tom Mes]

Just came back from what may or may not have been the first screening of 
Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away outside Japan, at the festival Nouvelles 
Images du Japon here in Paris.

After the screening, which went down very well with the audience (consisting 
mainly of press and invitees - the first public screening is tomorrow, 
Saturday the 22nd), Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki appeared for an 
hour-long debate / Q & A session.

Before this debate however, Miyazaki was awarded the rank of Officer of Arts 
and Letters by the government of France (one grade below knighthood), as 
well as the medal of the city of Paris.

David Kessler, director of the Centre National de la Cinématographie who 
handed Miyazaki his officer's isignia, said in his speech that the director 
fulfilled the criterium that France has set for this price, by acknowledging 
and celebrating cultural diversity and indentity in his work. Kessler added 
that it was fitting that this award should coincide with a screening of 
Spirited Away, since the film talks about the dangers of the loss of one's 
identity.

Tom Mes

Midnight Eye
http://www.midnighteye.com


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