Sister City Film Series: “Spirited Away”
「千と千尋の神隠し」 (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi), known internationally as Spirited Away, may feel to many readers as long having been part of our international zeitgeist given its release and record-breaking success some twenty-five years ago. Its broader themes, ranging from bread-and-circus indulgence to environmentalism, haven’t seem to have lost any relevance to audiences in the transpiring years if the nearly-sold-out attendance at Circle Cinema’s screening is any evidence. Failing a deeper reading, it could just be the film’s beauty and folklore so redolent in Studio Ghibli works that maintains its beloved status for so many.
Happily, Circle’s partnership with Tulsa Global Alliance (TGA) is nothing entirely new: the German-Japanese film Perfect Days, directed by auteur film stalwart Wim Wenders (Million Dollar Hotel, Until the End of the World), was sold out at Circle in early 2024 with support from the TGA Sister City chairs of Celle, Germany, and Utsunomiya, Japan. Moreover, a screening of the original Japanese cut of Godzilla took place in 2024 to celebrate seventy years of the franchise.
In its current “Sister City Film Series” iteration, though, we have TGA Tulsa-Zelenograd chair (and resident cinemaphile) Garrett Gibson to thank for his hard work. Through his vision, Circle Cinema and TGA partnered with Tulsa Botanic Garden to bring us the Mexican black-and-white art film Roma. That event celebrated Tulsa’s long-standing partnership with our first Sister City, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
These partnership events at Circle Cinema often differ from daily screenings in that there is additional programming meant to stoke the coalescing of community prior to enjoying the feature. Prior to the screening of Godzilla, for example, a brief lecture from “Professor Godzilla” Dr. Bill Tsutsui helped situate the complexities of the film. Prior to Spirited Away, Circle’s own film programmer, Ryan Thomas, lay the groundwork. Moreover, Studio Ghibli origami activities prior to the film were graciously hosted by our community partners at the Tulsa Japanese Friendship Club.
One thing is certain: seeing Spirited Away on the big screen is equally breathtaking in 2026 as it was in 2021.
千尋 (Chihiro), the name of Spirited Away’s protagonist, could be read as “a thousand inquiries.” If you, too, are innately curious, you may be wondering what to look for next vis-à-vis TGA and Circle Cinema’s “Sister City Film Series.” As it happens, you may be hearing about it here first: an “Afternoon with Amélie and Amiens” is coming on Sunday, March 1st, in celebration of our French sister city, Amiens. In fact, it’s not very difficult to notice some spiritual similarities between Spirited Away and Amélie. Why not attend and thereafter draw your own conclusions?
- Phil Sharp, Tulsa-Utsunomiya Sister City Partnership Chair
