Anna, is an introverted child who spends her days nestled in her sketch pad. Anna could certainly be described as a loner, as she herself proclaims that she lives outside "the circle" where most people belong. With Anna shutting herself off from the outside world, her foster parents decide to send her to spend the summer with her relatives in the quiet seaside town of Hokkakido. Anna is a character that is frustrated and alone, a surprisingly cynical foster child for a movie like this, but absolutely believable in depicting a character that feels abandoned. Anna appreciates her foster parents but questions how much they care for her, knowing that they collect the government subsidy that is given to couples raising a foster child. Eventually Anna meets a young girl In Marnie, who lives in a beautiful secluded mansion on the water. Marnie likes Anna for who she is, sharing extravagant stories of her wealthy and succesful parents that makes Anna feel appreciative to have a friend she can confide in. As Anna comes down from the high of escaping from loneliness, she begins to discover that Marnie herself doesn't come from the perfect life either. Hiromasa Yonebayashi's When Marnie Was There is a signifcant step up from his last Studio Gibli film, The Secret World of Arriety, being a far more poignant tale. When Marnie Was There is a great film for adults and children alike, telling a story about the importance of being positive and reminder that focusing on the good things that you do have is an important aspect of happiness. Without going into much plot details, this film is quietly devastating, with a narrative that is probably a little convoluted, but by the end this film shook me emotionaly with its powerful tale. As one would expect from any Studio Ghibli film, When Marnie Was There features beautiful animation, and what I always love about these films is how cinematic they feel, with the detail popping thanks to 2D textures. If this is going to be the last Studio Ghibli film, When Marnie Was There is a solid conclusion to a great studio, delivering another touching tale full of sadness, love, and hope.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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