I can’t believe it’s already been about 2 years since the coronavirus broke out in Wuhan, China back in December 2019. And it’s sad to know that the world hasn’t recovered from it yet. There are still countless cases and deaths throughout the world.

But despite the worldwide struggle against COVID-19, some parts of the world seem to have somewhat gone back to normalcy. In the U.S. and other places, universities, schools, cafes, and restaurants have now all reopened. Even theaters have opened its doors again to the public here in California.

And select theaters are even participating in the annual Studio Ghibli Fest by showing old Ghibli films on select dates and times. As a big fan of select Studio Ghibli films, I joined the festivity by purchasing my ticket for one of my favorite Ghibli films, Howl’s Moving Castle. I always regretted not watching Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle when they premiered back in the early 2000s. The only Ghibli films I knew and watched back then were My Neighbor Totoro and The Cat’s Return.

So my dreams came true when they announced that Howl’s Moving Castle was playing in theaters this month through the Ghibli Fest! (Check out their official website HERE.)

I can’t believe I didn’t know about the annual Studio Ghibli Fest!!!

Studio Ghibli Fest – Howl’s Moving Castle

As excited as I was, I purchased my ticket online via Atom Tickets on 10/7:

I made sure to reserve my spot for the screening of the original Japanese version with subtitles, as I prefer the original audio over dubs for all movies and shows. (Whether they be Spanish/Korean/Japanese/any other language, I appreciate the original versions much more.) For weeks, I waited patiently until the day of the movie, which was 10/25.

When the day came, I had to calm myself down until the movie started, which was 7PM. And interestingly enough, it rained that day until late in the afternoon. It never rains here where I live. But the sky cleared eventually and it no longer rained when I got to the movie theater.

When I checked in and entered inside, I was excited to see some traces of the 2021 Studio Ghibli Fest: a sign placed in front of the screen room that literally said “Studio Ghibli Fest 2021” and Ghibli Fest related previews playing inside.

Disappointment After Disappointment

Now, when I sat in my seat, there were very few people in the room. Due to my excitement, I had come 40 minutes before the start time. So I only saw a few of my fellow Howl’s Moving Castle fans, and we were properly distanced apart. Plus, most of us were wearing masks.

But as it grew nearer to 7PM, more people came in and soon I was sitting right next to someone and surrounded by many without masks. It was as if the pandemic had ended! I truly could not understand how it could be possible for the theater to operate this way – when the world, including the U.S., was still grappling with the virus, when there were people getting sick and dying every day.

Plus, as an icing on the cake, the lights were kept on when the movie began.

So there I was, surrounded by people, some without masks, amid the global pandemic, in a dark room packed with people, unable to focus on my favorite scenes from one of my favorite Ghibli movies with the backlights on.

I felt so unsafe and unable to concentrate that I left about 20 minutes into the movie.

It was so baffling to me that the movie theater would function this way in the middle of the pandemic. It is arguably one of the most dangerous places to be, with people sitting in a dark room in close proximity. I just couldn’t understand how there could be no social distancing, no masks required. I had to speak to someone about this issue.

My Conversation with Guest Services

On my way out, I stopped by at Guest Services to raise my annoyance and concern. I asked the employee if the theater was supposed to run like this amidst the pandemic: people not social distancing and some not wearing masks.

He said that it was supposed to be like that, that it has been “five months” since the theaters functioned that way in accordance to CDC guidelines.

This was such a shock, that I had to add:

“In the middle of the pandemic, even when it isn’t over yet?”

I mean, people are still getting sick and dying!

He said, “Yes.”

I just couldn’t believe what I heard. But that was their policy, no matter how strange it sounded, so I raised no further questions. Instead, I brought up the other issue – the lights being on well into the movie. At this point, I was wondering if that was how the theater was supposed to function. That, according to the employee, was not how it was supposed to be.

They fixed the lighting problem for the content audiences back in the dark, crowded screening room. I received a guest re-admit pass for my expensive $15 ticket for the Howl’s Moving Castle I watched for 20 minutes.

Conclusion

When I got back home, I checked online to see if the theater policies were truly so careless in terms of the coronavirus. And I was further shocked to find that they indeed were. Masks are “recommended,” and seats are no longer blocked, “in accordance with CDC guidelines.”

Just to double check, I checked another theater participating in the Studio Ghibli Fest, and they, too, were selling tickets without blocking seats – without social distancing.

I don’t know why CDC is giving these guidelines when we’re still stuck in the pandemic. I mean, just a quick search shows that we are far from the end of it:

My Thoughts

I wanted to watch Howl’s Moving Castle in theaters this year, and I thought that I could, despite the pandemic, if I was careful. But I realized that I couldn’t and shouldn’t, when CDC guides theaters that it no longer has to keep audiences socially distanced. And when it only “recommends” masks to be worn in crowded rooms. Plus, they don’t even know/check who is vaccinated or not, so there is probably an unvaccinated customer not wearing any masks.

So I highly discourage participating in the Ghibli Fest this year. In fact, I don’t recommend going to the movies. Not yet if you don’t feel comfortable sitting right next to strangers, many without masks, in a dark crowded room during the global pandemic.

Besides, Ghibli Fest is an annual event. Hopefully, by next year we can freely enjoy Ghibli films in theaters. And everyone can go to the movies without worrying about the pandemic.

P.S. On a more cheerful note, check out these awesome Howl’s Moving Castle macarons created by Honey & Butter Macarons:

See Honey & Butter’s video of their making Howl’s Moving Castle macarons: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CJ9gI3fhp0c/

And for my post on the cutest macaron store ever, Honey & Butter Macarons, click HERE. 🙂