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Science. Art. Film.: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
An ordinary man’s obsession becomes humanity’s first conversation with the cosmos.
8:00 AM
Science. Art. Film.: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Compassion becomes humanity’s last hope as a pacifist princess tries to stop two warring nations.
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6:00PM
$8 (+$1.50 booking fee)
Wed, May 20, 2026
Science. Art. Film.: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind 20 May, 2026
Miyazaki’s visionary post-apocalyptic fantasy.
The Science. Art. Film. series uncovers the wacky, weird and wonderful facets of science and art in films, with post-screening discussions featuring artists and ANU scholars. In collaboration with ANU and the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science.
1984 | DCP | JPN | D: Hayao Miyazaki
Japanese with English subtitles
Warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä (Sumi Shimamoto) desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.
1000 years after the Seven Days of Fire which sees Earth poisoned by war – an ecocide that created a toxic jungle whose creatures humans fear.
Blending epic adventure with ecological reflection, the film frames heroism as empathy rather than conquest. Partly inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s ‘Earthsea', and elevated by Joe Hisaishi’s score, the film’s emotional clarity and moral seriousness have made it a cornerstone of modern animation.
‘A visionary film that treats environmentalism not as doctrine but as human responsibility.’
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Join us after the film for a compelling discussion with an expert on East Asian culture and a filmmaker-scholar. Together, they explore how the film’s production and philosophy engage with technology and environmental urgency.
Professor Roald Maliangkay from the ANU School of Culture, History & Language, is fascinated by what drives the consumption of leisure and associated products, the convergence of major cultural phenomena, and the mechanics of related policies. He analyses Korean cultural industries, performance and fandom from the early twentieth century to the present.
Dr Robert Hardcastle is Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead for Film Production at the University of Canberra. His research is focussed on exploring the methodological contribution of filmmaking to a range of disciplines including sociology, environmental studies, and history. Rob has a number of screen credits in cinema and broadcast and is interested in exploring ways of intervening in entrenched industrial filmmaking practices, to make them more inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Moderator:
Dr Anna-Sophie Jürgens is a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU. She is also the Head of POPSICULE, ANU’s Science in Popular Culture and Entertainment Hub. Dr Jürgens’ research explores cultural meanings of science, the history of (violent) clowns and mad scientists, science and humour, and the interface between science and (public) art.
Presented as part of our Science. Art. Film. series in partnership with the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University.
Arc Cinema
We are situated in the heart of Canberra on McCoy Circuit, Acton, between the shores of Lake Burley Griffin and the grounds of the Australian National University. Just a 10-minute walk from the city and state bus interchanges.
1 McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT 2601
Film Details
Year
1984
Details
DCP 117 mins PG
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Countries
JPN
Accessibility
English Subtitles
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