I misused the term "populist" as if I was living in the 1920s.
Just interpret it as "a man pig of the common people". (sorry)

If we look at Miyazaki's work, pigs always represent the loss of hope, illusion, or esence. In Spirited away, the adults turn into pigs. In Princess Mononoke, its the boar spirits that lose faith in humanity and fall into corruption. In this movie, Porco has also lost his esence, and in the end, he regains it, which is why they say they never saw his face again: He gained his esence back, and was no longer a pig.

Fun fact. Porco Rosso was originally made to be a more lighthearted movie but then the Yugoslav wars broke out and that led to studio Ghibli deciding to make a more somber adult movie.

i always saw rosso as story about survivors guilt. i believed that the reason porco became a pig was because he didn’t view himself as a human of value due to losing so many of his comrades and friends in ww1. though i think i agree with your understanding of the film more.

It's even more haunting considering the Japanese concept artists had to flee Croatia (the art was based on the Adriatic coast of Croatia) because of a new war in 1991.

Hands down, my favorite Ghibli film. It encompasses all aspects that makes a Miyazaki film. Anti war, freedom/adventure, self determination, and those Skyscapes.

"A fun movie for kids, a thought provoking one for adults."

An attribute which makes so many animated films great.

In Italy  we celebrate the liberation from Fascism the 25th of april, and since Porco Rosso takes place in fascist Italy it easily  became a must watch  for many young boys and girls in this holiday. I don't know if you uploaded the video on purpose in this period but it's a welcomed surprise, great video as always and Buona Liberazione 🐷🌹

11:58 "its better to be a pig than a fascist" is such a profound way to end the video

Just a little extra tid bit for people who are curious, the song Gina sings in her night club is called "Le Temps Des Cerises" (The Time of Cherries) which is a bittersweet song about the fall of the Paris Commune in 1871, specifically the semaine sanglante (bloody week) when the French army overran the commune with terrible bloodshed. Very much on point with the theme of failed revolution and the cruel reaction that follows it.

I also remember how Miyazaki often drew himself as a pig. I heard that Porco Rosso is the character most like him.

Easily one of Miyazaki's best. I love the risks he took with Porco Rosso. It has some of his vintage trademarks- curses, war, flying, etc.. but it does so many things you don't expect. You assume it will be about a man redeeming himself and overcoming a curse, but it skips all that and does so much more!

The soundtrack is one of my favorites from Joe Hisiashi, and I often put it on to relax. So whimsical, and nostalgic... Makes me want to reminisce and ponder...

To add a little bit more context to the rise of the fascist movement, Mussolini started organizing his "squadracce", most of the time groups of veterans of WWI, to fight the socialist and communist groups and was sponsored by landlords in the countryside and factory owners in the cities. This allowed him to expand and arm his personal militia. When he thought that he had gained enough power, he marched on the capital, occupying it. The high commanders of the Italian army wanted to disperse the invading force, but the king took a liking to the man and decided to appoint him as prime minister. Important to note: Mussolini did not take part in the march on Rome until he was sure that the army wasn't going to shoot at them

The reason he turned into a pig is because he saw himself as a pig, in italy and other parts of the world being called a pig is a terrible insult, he saw himself as terrible because, unlike his friend, he survived the battle, not only that but he loved his deceased friend's widow, this is a metaphor, later on in the movie he returns human since he realizes that he wasn't a bad person after all. Love this movie  also love the planes showned in it, i dunno, hydro planes have such a style and elegance that modern hydro planes cant even dream of

Miyazaki wasn't ever particularly indirect on his stance on fascists, which is what made the official stance in Grave of the Fireflies confusing until you realize Miyazaki wasn't the director on that one, it was just that Ghibli animated it

I have ptsd from an armed conflict in my home country, were people raised against a faccist regime and were repressed with firearms. This video struck a chord deep with me. Im literally in tears. I watched Porco Rosso so many years ago, when I was a kid that I defintively didnt understand it. Now more than ever, having had to flee my country I can understand the true meaning of "better a pig than a faccist". Thanks you so much for this video.

In some way, he might have been transformed or gaslighted by the regime into a pig, an undesirable pig, instead of a charismatic character.

After watching Porco Rosso when I was 11, I never bothered to give it another look to see the subtext and themes in every frame, nor did it come to my mind that Porco was a populist (Red Swine). Thank You Accented Cinema for giving us the this film analysis on themes of this Ghibli Classic.

Police officer walks in
"I said better to be a pig THAN a facist, not pig AND a facist!"

Before I ever became anti-capitalist, before I ever became a socialist, porco Rosso had a place in my heart. Now, I love it even more, now I know.