Reviews

Possibly Studio Ghibli's last film, which really upsets me because it is my favorite animation studio. I grew up watching these movies, getting lost in their worlds and giving me not only some of my best childhood movie experiences, but also giving me some of my most emotional movie experiences. Seriously Studio Ghibli, why do you always make me cry!!! WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE is no exception, it is Ghibli at its finest. A very shy and introverted girl named Anna goes to visit some relatives in the countryside, not because her aunt doesn't want to take of her, this isn't some parent throwing her child to someone else so she can get a break, it's because Anna has asthma. And after an asthma attack her doctor thinks she should go some place where the air is fresh. When Anna arrives it's hard for her to get comfortable in this new environment. Then she finds an old house near a marsh and a blonde girl named Marine is living there. But is she really? Marnie and Anna become the best of friends and the film explores their friendship, but the film is hiding something from us and as we get deeper into the story more things begin to unravel.

Look, being a kid is hard. I get it, I'm a bit of an introvert myself. I would rather read comics or watch movies than go out to bars and socialize. I was like that in high school and it did make me feel different. There is a fantastic explanation at the beginning of this film that perfectly sums up how kids feel about themselves and their peers. Anna talks about in life there is a circle, on the inside are the popular people and on the outside is her. But because she is on the outside of that circle is because she doesn't believe she belongs there. The rest of the film has Anna slowly moving into that circle. WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE is easily one of the best films of the year and Ghibli's magnificent swan song. The animation is to die for, the water effects are unbelievable and the characters emotions and facial expressions totally in rich the wonderful surrounding. It could be one of Ghibli's best looking films. And like all good Ghibli films it mixes the drama with the fantasy very well. There is an underlining mystery to the film, a mystery I will not spoil for you, but when it is revealed I had so many emotions going through me.

Plus I just love watching these movies. The music, the landscape the all around slice of life feeling. The sea side towns and friendly neighborhood people. It's a place, like in many of these films I would love to visit and will someday. WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE is a smart "kids" film meaning it doesn't just throw flashes colors and jokes at you. It deals with real life situations that children at lest six and up should watch and hopefully take something from it. I sure did and it's one of my favorites of the year.