The filmography of the studio founded by Miyazaki and Takahata is full of hidden gems. This is one of the most exciting...
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| Image Credit: Studio Ghibli |
From My Neighbor Totoro to Spirited Away, passing through Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle, many masterpieces by Studio Ghibli have earned a place in the Olympus of animated cinema, and not only. But in the rich filmography of the Japanese studio founded by Miyazaki and Takahata, there are also hidden gems, more modest films, which tend to be talked about less, despite being equally valid. One of the most underrated, but also the most exciting, is for example When Marnie Was There, a 2014 anime directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, already author of Arrietty – The Secret World of Arrietty.
Based on the novel of the same name by Joan G. Robinson, Marnie was a real watershed in the history of Studio Ghibli: after its release, which coincided with Miyazaki's temporary retirement, a long period of "hiatus" began, interrupted by the release of Earwig and the Witch first and then the Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron. The story is that of Anna, a twelve-year-old orphan who, due to a health problem, is sent by a couple of relatives to a seaside village, where she can breathe the good sea air. Lonely and vaguely depressed, the little girl is unable to relate to her peers, except for a mysterious blonde girl who reveals her name as Marnie.
The two immediately form a very strong and unexpected bond, starting to confide in each other and also noticing the parallels between their respective family histories. The emotional crux of the film, however, lies in a final twist: Anna, passing by the villa where she usually meets her friend, meets a little girl named Sayaka, who has just moved there with her family. Sayaka asks her if she is not by chance Marnie, since she has just found her diary. From reading that writing, Anna discovers the truth about the identity of her first great friend, paving the way for one of Studio Ghibli's most emotional and moving endings.
This underrated story does not transport us into a fantasy world and does not involve the presence of spirits or Japanese legends like Spirited Away, but Yonebayashi still gives his audience a dramatic and touching story about family, childhood trauma, the fear of abandonment, and the possibility of reconciling with one's past and loved ones. The result is the story of a young girl who finds the strength to heal her traumas and move on, opening her heart to love and family again. To discover this beautiful story, all you have to do is head to Netflix, where you will find the entire filmography of Studio Ghibli!
Source: CBR
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