When Marnie Was There (Omoide no Marnie)
Story: Anna, a 12 year old girl, is adopted. Her parents and grandmother died when she was very small, and although her adoptive mother loves her very much, Anna feels alone. She feels different from other people, like she doesn't belong, and doesn't know how to communicate or make friends. The stress is causing her asthma to act up, so her mother sends her to live with relatives in the country, where the air is clean. At first, Anna feels isolated here, too, but soon she becomes fascinated by the seemingly abandoned house near the marsh. One night, when she's at her lowest, she meets the mysterious girl who lives there, Marnie. Marnie is a mature, warm girl who takes an instant liking to Anna, and the two form a close friendship. But there's something strange about Marnie and the world she lives in...
Rating: 5/5
Wow. Just, wow. What an amazing movie! Anna is easy to relate to as a character; she's introverted and stand-offish, feels like there's something about her that makes her unlikable to other people. She's lonely and doesn't like herself... But at the same time, you get the feeling that she really is kind of different from the talkative girls around her. She's been through a lot, is more reflective, and just can't relate to them. I like that the movie shows the difference between Anna and her peers, but doesn't depict them as frivolous, either.
Marnie's a great character, too. She's kind and warm and has an easier time socializing than Anna. She also seems more mature... but at the same time, she's definitely mischievous. Although Marnie is more out-going, she's thoughtful like Anna, and it's clear why the two are able to understand each other. Their relationship feels real and touching. Especially when you find out what they have in common.
The story's strong, too, takes it slow and puts the focus on the characters, where it belongs. The mystery surrounding Marnie isn't revealed much until the end, and some might want more explanations at that... But the movie isn't really about that. The mystery serves to make the friendship between Anna and Marnie seem magical, rather than being an end unto itself. In fact, I felt like the lack of explanation made it feel more realistic. You get the feeling that, if something like this happened in real life, there wouldn't be a full explanation for the person it happened to. And then the ending is so unexpected and moving, so perfect for the characters and the themes.
Animation is absolutely gorgeous, the characters, the scenery... I loved how certain emotions are expressed. Like when Anna is riding in the car with her relatives to their home, there's a shot of her staring out the window with a blank expression, just watching the countryside pass by; I've been there, and I recognized those feelings of isolation and emptiness immediately. And when Anna takes her first steps toward the marsh house, there's a shot of her stepping into the water which is so beautiful. The shore is symbollic of boundaries, so stepping into the water marks the point where Anna crosses over into another world that works by different rules.
Excellent Japanese voice acting (can't speak for the English yet since I haven't seen it). The voice actors are great at communicating the characters mental states, whether it's Anna's dull, depressed perspective, or Marnie's gentle playfulness.
So, yeah, beautiful, beautiful movie. It's a children's movie, but it's really mature, doesn't shy away from painful emotions or give characters easy, happy endings. If you like animation and/or kids movies, this is something you need to see.
