Spirited Away - by Hayao Miyazaki, is one of his many great films from Japan. This anime film is about a spoiled little girl, who is whirled wind into the spirit world and faced unusual circumstances. While trying to free herself and her parents from that parallel universe, Chihiro learns to become independent, courageous, loyal and spirited. Her journey helps her to learn who she really is and what she is capable of accomplishing. I can only imagine how much meaning is in this moving that is lost in translation. Become Spirited Away, and watch this must see movie! 
OKURIBITO (Departures) is a Japanese film directed by Yojiro Takita released in September of 2008. Okuribito has won multiple awards such as the 28th Hawaii Film Festival's Audience Choice award. What touched my heart about this film is it's subtle sensitivity in a culture that is misunderstood and epitomized as unemotional. There are so many intricate facets to this story: love, honor, culture, humility, modern lifestyle vs. tradition & enlightenment. The Japanese culture is rich with tradition, which in this film is the glue that holds all the character's together. Here's the trailer for the film.
FLOW, is a documentary film by Irena Salina, which focus on the global water crisis. Water is essential to life on our planet. Here in the United States we take clean water for granted. Our access to fresh water is as simple as turning on the faucet. In other countries, clean water is scarce due natural and unnatural factors such as water prioritization. Corporations are treating water as a commodity, not as a common resource. Selling water to the people who can afford it, but what about the people who need it? Without clean water there can be no life. We need to take a closer look at how to preserve clean water resources for our prosperity & the health of our future. Clean water cannot be taken for granted any longer. 
