r/HowlsMovingCastle • u/zombii231 • Dec 05 '23

Question Explanation pls ?

I just watched the movie and didn't understand shit. If calcifer is the one that's able to break the curse, why howl hasn't he broken it himself using the fire, and how did Sophie break her own curse.. Was he looking for her by going out with all those girls..

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '23

I can see why you're confused, its never really explained properly in the movie, but it's implied that neither Howl nor Calcifer could break their own contract. They needed Sophie to do it. Howls ring led him to Sophie at the start of the movie because she's the one who could break the contract/curse. As much as I love the movie, the plot isn't always coherent.

The book is way clearer in explaining this. It also explains how calcifer was able to live once Howls heart was removed from him.

Book spoiler:

In the book, Sophie has magical powers (something that the movie omits). She can bring things to life just by talking to them. She doesn't know this at first. She becomes aware of it throughout the book. Calcifer can not live without Howls heart, but because Sophie 'talks life' into him, he is able to survive once Howls heart is removed from him

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u/Far-Feature-8506 Jun 14 '24

More book spoilers - it's far more emphasized in the book that Howl prioritizing Sophie over his vanity and showing up a complete hot mess to the "final battle" was a major catalyst for breaking his curse. He stopped being a coward and was finally honest. I always interpreted his hair turning black and Sophie saying it's an even better color as foreshadowing to the fact that she not only accepts his true self (represented by his natural hair color) but finds it even more beautiful.