Summary
When Marnie Was There is a 2014 animated film produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The film is based on Joan G. Robinson’s 1967 novel of the same name. The film delights the heart while giving a fresh Japanese setting for the film adaptation.
The film recounts the life story of Anna Sasaki, a 12-year-old girl who lives in Sapporo and attends the local school. The girl suffers from asthma which causes the girl enough anxiety that makes her feel as though she is an outsider. Anna is a socially withdrawn depressed child. Her parents have completely abandoned her by mentally and emotionally checking out of her life completely. Anna is unable to forge deep emotional connections to people which causes her to feel deeply lonely.
Anna’s foster mother, having concerns for her mental and physical well being, decides to send her to live with family in the serene seaside town and spend the summer with relatives, Setsu and Kiyomasa Oiwa. Like a number of other children, Anna is unable to socialise with her peers and is deeply withdrawn, although Anna is of the opinion that it is deep social engagement.
One day during her explorations, Anna spies a forlorn mansion across a swamp from her home. Although it is obviously abandoned, she feels a strange sense of nostalgia. At the mansion she encounters a strange and mysterious blonde girl, Marnie, who treats Anna like a long lost friend. They develop an intense friendship almost immediately.
Marnie is gentle and sweet and full of energy while Anna is shy and introverted. Anna relaxes and feels alive whenever they are together. They share in deep discussions, whispers, and exploration which creates an deep and everlasting friendship.
Despite their profound friendship, Marnie has a strange habit of disappearing, and constantly coming and going. At times Anna’s home feels like an abandoned mansion, while at others it is busy and alive with music and light. Anna is determined to peel back the layers of Marnie’s existence which means she must also deal with her feelings of self abandonment and self worth.
Eventually it becomes clear to Anna that Marnie is not a real person in the conventional sense. With the aid of dreams, memories and forgotten enigmas, the truth of Marnie’s existence and the connection to Anna’s life is expertly woven together.
In a manner that does not spoil the final twist, the story ends with Anna having a realization about herself, her family, and her identity. As a result, she goes to her foster home feeling lighthearted, more complete, and more connected than she ever felt.
Cast & Crew
Main Voice Cast & Crew (Japanese Version)
Sakura Takatsuki as Anna Sasaki
The artistic, reserved, and emotional cornerstone protagonist. Anna experiences a deep and transformative healing self-discovery journey.
Kasumi Arimura as Marnie
The closest friend to Anna, a mystical and other-worldly spirit. Marnie’s enigmatic character brings a surrealistic element to the story.
Nanako Matsushima as Yoriko Sasaki (foster mother of Anna)
A nurturing woman who loves Anna but has little to no emotional connection with her.
Susumu Terajima and Toshie Negishi as Kiyomasa and Setsu Oiwa
Very warm and generous family members who care for Anna and help her while she is living in the rural area.
Ryoko Moriyama as Hisako
A painter living in the area who becomes a guide and helps Anna with her art.
Hana Sugisaki as Sayaka
An energetic, inquisitive girl who becomes a friend of Anna and helps solve the mystery of the Marsh House.
Crew
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Bringing a soft, poetic touch to the film like he did with The Secret World of Arrietty.
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Much respected for capturing emotion and beauty in their animated classic works.
Screenplay: Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Keiko Niwa, Masashi Ando
Joan G. Robinson’s original story.
Takatsugu Muramatsu is the music composer.
The film’s soft score with piano touches enhances the sentiments and the calm of the film.
IMDb Ratings
The film When Marnie Was There has an IMDb score of 7.6/10.
The film is highly acclaimed for the emotional complexity and the hand-drawn animation. It is considered one of Ghibli’s most delicate and well-rounded films for the way it tackles grief, memory, and identity.
When Marnie Was There does not include the whimsical creatures and grand adventure typical in other Ghibli films, it is a quiet yet strong film. This offers a meditative experience that is felt long after the film ends. It has also won international recognition and was nominated for Best Animated Feature in the 88th Academy Awards.
Themes and Interpretation
Loneliness and Belonging
Anna’s emotional development starts from a place of profound sadness. Her inability to feel acceptance from even her caring foster parents shows the level of universal desire to belong. Through her m friendship with Marnie, Anna starts to realize that she does not sit as alone as she thinks.
Memory and Identity
The film seeks to understand the ways in which history constructs the self by seamlessly integrating memory and amnesia, the real and the unreal. The more Marnie’s mystery Anna solves, the more pieces of her identity and history she turns. In turn, it enables a self-reconciliation and confrontation with her history.
Anna and Marnie’s relationship is at once delicate and profoundly transformational. Anna, who learns to trust, feel, and be loved, is the recipient of Marnie’s friendship, which serves as a restorative power. Marnie serves as a friend, but also as a reflection, who shows Anna the love that she has long needed.
Acceptance and Growth
Anna’s transformation by the end of the film is subtle but profound. She is more open, expressive, and accepting of herself and others. Rather than large sweeping actions, her emotional healing is characterized by a series of small, yet profoundly impactful adjustments to her posture and connections, which she forms with others.
When Marnie Was There: Animation and Visuals
True to form with Studio Ghibli, the animation in When Marnie Was There is spellbinding, and the green, coastal landscapes combined with the hushed interiors are nothing short of dreamy and immersive in set design. The Marsh House especially is depicted with an added layer of magical allure, perfect to advance the story’s deep sense of mystery.
In terms of emotional set design, the soft color palettes, expressive character designs, and subtle lighting finessed with the animation of each frame feels as though it has the intent of telling a story, adding deep emotional context to the filmmaking.
Conclusion
When Marnie Was There is a brave and delicate work of film that touches upon lore, personal relationships, and a sense of belonging to an environment. It is a gentle, contemplative narrative that is capable of piercing the soul with no reliance on hyperactive plot lines, spectacles, or visual aids.
It seeks to offer more than simple entertainment, rather asking the viewer to pause in thought, to ‘listen’ to the gentle murmur of history, to invite connection, and to cherish one’s loved ones. The film is indeed a gentle, emotional piece that is a ‘must-watch’ for both seasoned Studio Ghibli fans and those just venturing into the studio’s works.
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