Excitement is brewing as Studio Ghibli's latest cinematic marvel, "The Boy and the Heron" (Si Bocah dan Burung Bangau), is set to enchant Indonesian theaters starting Wednesday, December 13, 2023. This film, an adaptation of the eponymous novel by Genzaburo Yoshino published in 1937, promises a captivating journey through the life of a young boy against the backdrop of wartime Tokyo in 1943.

The heart-wrenching narrative unfolds around Mahito Maki, a young boy who loses his mother, Hisako, in a hospital fire during the tumultuous events of war. His father, the owner of an aircraft ammunition factory, remarries Hisako's sister, Natsuko. The family, along with Mahito, relocates to a village where Natsuko lives with her elderly helpers.

Complicating matters for Mahito is his struggle to accept his father's remarriage to Natsuko, who is, in fact, his aunt. In the midst of his conflicted emotions, the young boy encounters a talking heron, adding a magical element to the story.

As the plot thickens, Natsuko mysteriously disappears one day. Mahito, accompanied by one of the family's elderly servants, Kiriko, embarks on a quest into the forest to find her. It is here that he reunites with the talking heron, who guides him to an ancient tower where Mahito believes he can reunite with his supposedly living mother.

The journey takes an unexpected turn as Mahito discovers a world cohabited by the living and the deceased. In this mystical realm, he confronts a series of mysterious events that unveil the secrets of this alternate reality and the truths about himself.

Box Office Triumphs

"The Boy and the Heron" has not only captured the hearts of audiences but has also soared to the top of the North American box office, raking in an impressive $10.4 million or approximately IDR 161 billion in its opening week. Remarkably, the film has dethroned Beyonce's concert film, Renaissance, according to data from Box Office Mojo as of Monday, December 11, 2023.

The international market has also embraced the enchanting tale, with a global box office revenue reaching $97 million or approximately IDR 1.5 trillion. In its home country, Japan, the film has maintained its dominance at the box office for two consecutive weeks, accumulating $56.1 million.

Despite Studio Ghibli's minimal promotional efforts—relying solely on a single poster featuring a bird portrait—the film has generated immense anticipation in Indonesia. As it prepares to grace the screens for 124 minutes of magical storytelling, the question remains: Are you intrigued to witness the enchantment of "The Boy and the Heron"?