Howl's Moving Castle Synopsis

DESCRIPTION

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) is a fantastical tale of love and courage, against all odds, during the dark days of war. The film follows Sophie, a young hat maker who has been cursed by the Witch of the Waste to live as an elderly woman.

Sophie finds Howl’s castle and embarks on an adventure to cure her curse, as well as Howl’s, who has also been cursed by the Witch of the Waste. The two grapple with their fates to live cursed lives, while navigating the terrors of war and destruction that surround them, and in the end, discover an unexpected love along the way.

CHARACTERS

Sophie Hatter: A shy, young woman who views herself as ordinary. When she is cursed by the Witch of the Waste to live as an elderly woman, she develops an inner strength matched by none. Through the film’s journey, the once shy Sophie morphs into a courageous and capable person, and finds true love not only within Howl, but within herself as well.

Howl: A powerful wizard obsessed with being beautiful, Howl battles with his curse and his inner demons as he navigates a war he doesn’t want to fight and a love he didn’t expect to find. Sophie helps to free him of his curse and to discover the light that had been hiding beneath.

Witch of the Waste: A witch whose favorite pastimes are casting curses upon easy prey and stealing the hearts of young men in order to keep her youth. She enters as an evil force and evolves into a soft and quite amiable character.