Godzilla is more than a big fire-breathing monster.
First brought to the screen in 1954 by director Ishirō Honda, the original “Godzilla” depicted the destruction and trauma that the Japanese people experienced during and after World War II, specifically the firebombing of Tokyo, the dropping of atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and the radiation poisoning suffered by the crew of the fishing boat Lucky Dragon No. 5 following the hydrogen bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.
Rather than recreate these horrific events, Honda reimagined them as the result of a rampaging dinosaur, giving audiences an emotional distance to engage with the film and process the trauma that they were still undergoing. That is what great genre movies do: They allow filmmakers to tackle difficult subject matter in a way that makes it easier for audiences to engage.
The two films opening at the Triplex this week carry on this storytelling tradition while exploring the lingering impact of the events that inspired Honda’s original “Godzilla” 70 years ago. Legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki’s semi-autobiographical “The Boy and the Heron” is an animated story of a young boy fleeing the horrors and loss of World War II by escaping into a fantasy world. Takashi Yamazaki’s “Godzilla Minus One” takes the franchise back to its roots by letting the rampaging reptile loose on post-war Tokyo.
These titles are unabashedly genre movies—a fantastical anime and an effects-heavy kaiju tale—but they are also deeply emotional, human stories. They are reminders that to explore the difficult parts of humanity, one of the best things a movie can do is leave our world behind—or bring a fire-breathing monster crashing into it.
Now Playing
“Mean Girls”
A musical adaptation that is so fetch.
This is the version of “Mean Girls” that we will be quoting for the next 20 years. An energetic (and musical) update of Tina Fey’s millennial classic for a new generation, this version features rising stars Angourie Rice (“The Beguiled,” “Mare of Easttown”); Reneé Rapp (“The Sex Lives of College Girls”); and Auli’i Cravalho (“Moana”).
“The Boys in the Boat”
Final week to catch this inspiring true story.
From director George Clooney, “The Boys in the Boat” tells the incredible true story of the University of Washington men’s rowing team that went on to shock the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The show’s run ends Thursday, January 25.
Coming Soon
“Poor Things”
The latest collaboration between visionary director Yorgos Lanthimos and producer/star Emma Stone, “Poor Things” tells the story of a young woman finding new life and liberation in Victorian-era Europe. Drawing inspiration from works like “Black Narcissus” and Fellini’s “And the Ship Sails On,” “Poor Things” is already racking up awards for its stunning visuals and performances.
“American Fiction”
The directorial debut from writer Cord Jefferson (“The Good Place,” “Watchmen”), “American Fiction” is a blazing satire that takes on some of the most divisive issues in American culture. Starring Jeffrey Wright, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, Tracee Ellis Ross, and many more, “American Fiction” is the story of a writer embracing the racial stereotypes he has spent a lifetime avoiding and finding unexpected success in return.
Support our mission of movies for all
There are three ways you can help support our mission of bringing the best mix of new, classic, and cult movies to the southern Berkshire community:
- Donate. We are a non-profit organization that relies heavily on donations from our fellow movie lovers. Anything you can give goes a long way toward helping us reach our goals.
- Become a member. An easy way to donate that gets you a bunch of benefits in return, buying a membership is a sustainable way to keep the Triplex going.
- Come to the movies. That’s what it’s all about, right?
