Page 47 - Real_Reading_1

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B Spirited away

1 You see this description of a film in a TV guide. Skim the review and check your answer to
Answer these questions. Exercise 2.
a Have you heard of this
f 1.00 FltM: Spirited Away
film? Skim the review again. What does the critic
[l IZOOt¡ ]apanese director
h H:ve vnr r seen if? think of the film? Tick / the correct box.
EI Miyazaki's first digitally
c Do you know an¡hing animated feature. The a He recommends
it. He thinks it's quite good. I
about it? highest-earning b He doesn't recommend
it. lt's one of the poorest
Japanese
lilm ever. Nol surorisinol
animated films he's seen. I
c He recommends He thinks it's a fantastic
it.
film.I
Look at the dictionary definitions. They may help
you to work out what the film is about. What type
of fif m do you think Spírited Away is? Tick / one of
the boxes. Don't check your answer yet.
a comedy I
a romance Qiritr l'sptrt/ w¿n liñi*nr'üÉl lcl
f
something which people believe exists but
a fantasy I does not ]rave a physical body, such as a ghosl
euil spirits
Spifit2 ,t'sprrr| ueró be spirited away/out/to, et.
to be moved somervhere secretly l1¿ tt(6 slJ¡r,
it?d. auat to a secret hide-out in Mex.¿co.

Spirited Away

(Japanese: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
Spirited Away begins with Chihiro and her parents travelling to their new home. They take
a wrong turn and find themselves in a mysterious town with many restaurants. They can
see all kinds of food in the restaurants. Chihiro's parents decide to sit down and they start
eating. While they eat and eat, Chihiro explores. She meets a boy named Haku, who tells
her to leave the place immediately. But it is too latel Chihiro is trapped in this spirit world
and her parents have become animals. She must learn to survive in this strange land and,
more importantly, she must try to rescue her parents and return home.
The story is about Chihiro's personal growth and the lessons she learns from her
experiences in the spirit world. She finds work at a bathhouse run by a stern old woman
named Yubaba. As the newest member of the staff, Chihiro is given the hardest jobs.
But she responds in a way that we can both admire and believe. and she also makes a
few friends at the same time.
Everything about this film is gorgeous. The artwork is rich and colourful, and the fantasy
world in which Chihiro finds herself is amazing. The animation is lifelike. And, as well as
being wonderful to look at, the film has fantastic music by composerlo Hisaishi.
The English voices are great but, with Disney's resources, anything less would be
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disappointing. The casting is excellent Daveigh Chase is perfect as Chihiro. There are
also memorable performances from Suzanne Pleshette as Yubaba and Susan Egan as Lin.
Sp¡r¡ted Away is Japan's number 1 film. It has received a number of prizes (including a
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2003 Academy Award for "Best Animated Film") the critics love it. And so do I!

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