Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK)
Rating: 2.8/5 stars
"When Marnie Was There" never fulfills on its grand promise of something profound. Based on the book by Joan G. Robinson, it's another fantastical tale from Japanese animation juggernaut Studio Ghibli. Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi sweeps the frames with the studio's quintessential ethereal brushstrokes, delivering an aesthetically superb piece. But there may not be enough meat to keep adults engaged, while the subtler themes of sexuality and gender will likely soar over little ones' heads.
After suffering an asthma attack at school, out-of-place Anna is dispatched to a seaside town in Hokkaido. There she finds herself fascinated by a dilapidated mansion, perched on the edge of a marshland. She strikes up a fervent friendship with the house's enigmatic occupant Marnie, and the pair soon becomes inseparable, enabling the previously withdrawn Anna to open up. But in typical Ghibli fashion, things are never what they seem, and Anna finds herself charged with unraveling a family history mystery.
The plot centers on female friendship, exploring "tomboy" and "girly-girl" archetypes. This is particularly interesting coming out of Japan, where femininity and innocence are inextricably linked and highly revered. Anna is a world away from the giggling schoolgirl stereotype, and while vague questions of her sexuality and mental health are hazily hinted at, they're never really raised, let alone explored. Understandable for a PG film, but in the end, it left me with more questions than answers. Anna and Marnie frequently abscond together in clandestine meetings, suggesting a rapport that is far more intimate. It reaches an apex when a jealous Anna questions Marnie about dancing with a boy. You're certain that something more will come of this, but eventually nothing does. Later there is a scary interlude that resembles a Gothic tale involving an old abandoned silo that terrifies Marnie. More suggestions of something deeper than what is actually presented. The denouement ultimately ignores all of these plot threads and settles into a resolution that doesn't effectively address the issues with which Anna is struggling. Psychologically, she was really messed up to begin with, and the reveal is totally disconnected from what this girl had been feeling. It seems all too rushed and contrived after a point.
Maybe I'm being a bit demanding, but "When Marnie Was There" just feels more muddled than most Studio Ghilbi offerings - many of them classics in their own right. You sense that it boils down to a scripting issue, simply because the film doesn't earn some of its poignant scenes - for instance, Anna and Marnie declare their love for each other after one quick meeting, which doesn't evoke sincerity as the writers don't make us believe that the characters ought to be feel that way. Nevertheless, the movie is too visually hypnotic to ignore. Both the background score and sound effects enhance the rich milieu, which is spellbinding to begin with.
With Ghibli announcing indefinite hiatus last year, "When Marnie Was There" marks the last film we'll see from the studio for some time. In that light, it's dimly disappointing and doesn't hold a candle to most of their erstwhile endeavors. But it's still worth a look for ardent anime fans and Ghibli devotees who'll be waiting a while for their next fix. It's visually alluring with some nice touches, but one does feel that it could, or rather should, have been much deeper in its narrative. I liked it. I just didn't love it.
Rating: 2.8/5 stars
"When Marnie Was There" never fulfills on its grand promise of something profound. Based on the book by Joan G. Robinson, it's another fantastical tale from Japanese animation juggernaut Studio Ghibli. Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi sweeps the frames with the studio's quintessential ethereal brushstrokes, delivering an aesthetically superb piece. But there may not be enough meat to keep adults engaged, while the subtler themes of sexuality and gender will likely soar over little ones' heads.
After suffering an asthma attack at school, out-of-place Anna is dispatched to a seaside town in Hokkaido. There she finds herself fascinated by a dilapidated mansion, perched on the edge of a marshland. She strikes up a fervent friendship with the house's enigmatic occupant Marnie, and the pair soon becomes inseparable, enabling the previously withdrawn Anna to open up. But in typical Ghibli fashion, things are never what they seem, and Anna finds herself charged with unraveling a family history mystery.
The plot centers on female friendship, exploring "tomboy" and "girly-girl" archetypes. This is particularly interesting coming out of Japan, where femininity and innocence are inextricably linked and highly revered. Anna is a world away from the giggling schoolgirl stereotype, and while vague questions of her sexuality and mental health are hazily hinted at, they're never really raised, let alone explored. Understandable for a PG film, but in the end, it left me with more questions than answers. Anna and Marnie frequently abscond together in clandestine meetings, suggesting a rapport that is far more intimate. It reaches an apex when a jealous Anna questions Marnie about dancing with a boy. You're certain that something more will come of this, but eventually nothing does. Later there is a scary interlude that resembles a Gothic tale involving an old abandoned silo that terrifies Marnie. More suggestions of something deeper than what is actually presented. The denouement ultimately ignores all of these plot threads and settles into a resolution that doesn't effectively address the issues with which Anna is struggling. Psychologically, she was really messed up to begin with, and the reveal is totally disconnected from what this girl had been feeling. It seems all too rushed and contrived after a point.
Maybe I'm being a bit demanding, but "When Marnie Was There" just feels more muddled than most Studio Ghilbi offerings - many of them classics in their own right. You sense that it boils down to a scripting issue, simply because the film doesn't earn some of its poignant scenes - for instance, Anna and Marnie declare their love for each other after one quick meeting, which doesn't evoke sincerity as the writers don't make us believe that the characters ought to be feel that way. Nevertheless, the movie is too visually hypnotic to ignore. Both the background score and sound effects enhance the rich milieu, which is spellbinding to begin with.
With Ghibli announcing indefinite hiatus last year, "When Marnie Was There" marks the last film we'll see from the studio for some time. In that light, it's dimly disappointing and doesn't hold a candle to most of their erstwhile endeavors. But it's still worth a look for ardent anime fans and Ghibli devotees who'll be waiting a while for their next fix. It's visually alluring with some nice touches, but one does feel that it could, or rather should, have been much deeper in its narrative. I liked it. I just didn't love it.