Howl’s Moving Castle

Go3 Films | 2026-09-09 16:30 | 18:30

Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-nominated follow-up to the acclaimed Spirited Away is a beguiling fantasy about love, transformation and self-acceptance. In a village in a war-torn land a shy teenager called Sophie works in a hat shop and lives in the shadow of her glamorous sister Lettie, until she encounters the infamous wizard Howl. The meeting incites the jealousy of the Witch of the Waste, who transforms Sophie into a wizened old lady. Sophie’s subsequent quest to lift the curse brings her firmly into Howl’s world. Miyazaki paints her journey with characteristic vigour and ingenuity, gleefully exploiting a steampunk aesthetic which has its greatest iteration in the castle of the title: a bloated Gothic mansion that heaves itself along on four spindly legs to an accompaniment of groans and wheezes. This screening is of the English-dubbed version of the film, which includes impressive vocal performances from a cast including Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Jean Simmons and Billy Crystal. Film4 premiere.