Never-Ending Man

On the one hand, this Japanese documentary might seem to exploit the elderly eccentricities of anime genius Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke). But it is also a loving portrait of that rare world-shaping innovator who deserves all of the attention that he obviously craves. Filmmaker Kaku Arakawa catches Miyazaki at a pivotal point in his illustrious career, as he talks of retirement (at least from making feature films). But it turns out that a creative renaissance for Miyazaki lies ahead: through computer art, the great maestro finds a reason to get back to work. Arakawa’s patient objectivity helps to build an engrossingly human drama with a complete narrative arc, beginning with Miyazaki as a hopelessly burnt-out case ready for a comfortable retirement to his miraculous rebirth. In the latter half of the film, especially, viewers witness Miyazaki’s infectious youthful zeal in attempting to create one last masterpiece before he faces looming mortality. Never-Ending Man has the rare quality of immersing the viewer in its subject’s mindset, offering a privileged and enlightening glimpse into that often-elusive liminal space between madness and genius. Recommended. (M. Sandlin)