Porco Rosso

In the skies above the Adriatic Sea, a lone pilot in a crimson seaplane fights a one-man war against air pirates. He is Porco Rosso, a former World War I ace who now lives under a mysterious curse that has given him the head of a pig. Set in the 1930s, a time when fascism was rising in Italy, this Studio Ghibli film by Hayao Miyazaki is a love letter to aviation, an adventure story, and a melancholy meditation on aging and loss.

The film follows Porco as he battles the Mamma Aiuto Gang, a band of sky pirates, and their hired American gunslinger Donald Curtis. After his plane is shot down, Porco travels to Milan to have it repaired by the talented young mechanic Fio Piccolo. Fio's enthusiasm and skill begin to crack Porco's cynical shell, while his old friend Gina, who runs the Hotel Adriano, waits for him to return to his human form. The story blends thrilling aerial dogfights with quiet moments of introspection, all scored by Joe Hisaishi's evocative music. [edit]

Porco Rosso, whose real name is Marco Pagot, was a celebrated Italian flying ace in World War I. After the war, he became a bounty hunter, capturing air pirates and collecting rewards. He operates from his seaplane, a distinctive red Savoia S.21, and lives alone on a secluded island. His reputation is legendary, and he is feared and respected by pirates and authorities alike.

The film opens with Porco intercepting the Mamma Aiuto Gang, a group of pirates who have kidnapped a group of young schoolgirls. He rescues the girls and defeats the pirates, but their leader hires Donald Curtis, an arrogant American pilot, to eliminate Porco. Curtis shoots down Porco's plane, but Porco survives and brings the wreckage to the Piccolo family's workshop in Milan.

In Milan, Porco meets Fio Piccolo, a seventeen-year-old girl who is a brilliant aircraft designer and mechanic. She convinces her grandfather to let her rebuild Porco's plane, and she works tirelessly to make it faster and more powerful. During this time, Porco develops a grudging respect for Fio's skill and determination. Meanwhile, Curtis pursues Fio romantically, but she is more interested in Porco.

Back in the Adriatic, the Mamma Aiuto Gang, humiliated by their defeat, challenge Porco to a rematch. Porco accepts, but the Italian secret police, who view him as a threat, also become involved. The stage is set for a final confrontation between Porco and Curtis, with the fate of Fio and the pirates at stake. The story explores Porco's past, his guilt over a comrade lost in the war, and his gradual acceptance of the people who care for him.[edit]