Captivating women

I was trying to find a good movie that portrayed a positive femininity. I was not having good success and was actually being increasingly irritated by the search results. Sexy and “badass” came up a lot. Feminist themes and godly masculinity showed up as well. I really wanted a movie I had not seen that dealt with women in a respectful and captivating manner. I did not want a Kill Bill nor a My Best Friend’s Wedding kind of movie.  Joan of Arc? Sure, depending on the version. Mother Theresa? Yes. A Little Princess? Totally--except it is actually a mini-series that would last 6 hours, and  we were actually supposed to pick movies not mini-series.  

I decided ultimately to pick a movie we had at home--Nausicaa:Valley of the Winds.  This was lovely.  She displays compassion and courage. She views the world which holds much terror with an eye for beauty.In contrast there is the beautiful but bitter Kushana of the Tolmekians, who sees things through the lens of power and fear.  

Nausicaa is introduced as she is out adventuring in the toxic jungle looking for ohm shell and collecting spores.  She leaves the jungle only to discover  Lord Yupa being chased by an angry insect, which she stuns, charms, and sends back to the forest from the vantage of her glider.  Back in the village it is clear she is well loved and respected by her people and that she loves and cares for them.  

When the village is invaded by the Tolmekians, who could have simply peacefully retrieved their nasty giant embryo and wrecked ship, the king is killed.  Nausicaa initially went into a rage and killed and injured a few soldiers before being stopped by Lord Yupa, who encouraged her to hold on for the sake of her people.  She was then taken as a hostage, but spent her last moments encouraging a few little girls who were sad to see her go.  

Kushana is imperious.  She planned to grow the giant in the valley and rule herself from there. While taking the hostages back to Tolmekia, however, they were attacked by a lone Pegite fighter.  

The airships were demolished by the zipping little craft, that is itself taken down.  Nausicaa and the other hostages, along with Kushana survive.  Nausicaa and one of her people actually save Kushana, not that she displayed any subsequent gratitude.  The Pegite fighter, Asbel, also survived the crash, but nearly did not survive the insects.  After stopping Kushana from bringing angry ohm down on them, Nausicaa sent her men and Kushana off to wait above the forest for one hour while she attempted to rescue the Pegite.  
She did rescue him from the immediate danger of giant insects or falling to his death, but then the glider was wrecked by the cutting tail of an insect whose head they had just narrowly evaded. They crash landed, this time in what would appear to be quicksand. 

Nausicaa was knocked unconscious in the crash, but when she revived in the subterranean caverns she discovers what Asbel, the Pegite fighter/prince, has been delighting in already--the air is safe to breath and the water is clean. They have time to repair the glider and rest in safety before continuing on their journey. 
They must get Asbel back to his people and Nausicaa back to her valley, and maybe somehow find a way to stop the devastation of war that bringing a giant warrior back could cause.

Throughout the story you see her courage and compassion, but I won’t tell the end; you should go watch it.  You could not just replace her with a man and have the same story.  So, Nausicaa:Valley of the Wind--it is an excellent adventure story that also has an excellent female role model. 

(It also has lovely music which is likely to become stuck in your head :)