When Marnie Was There

Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi in 2014, the film takes us to the north of Hokkaidō, Japan’s northernmost island. This is where the asthmatic and introverted Anna spends her summer holidays with her aunt at her foster mother’s wish. One day she wakes up from a nap at the seashore and meets the blonde girl named Marnie. The two become friends in no time, explore the bay with a rowboat and attend the glamorous social gatherings hosted by Marnie’s parents. This friendship is all the more important for Anna, because she is teased about her exotic blue eyes by the children of the village. As a result, a journey of discovery also begins for Anna: to her roots, her origins and her identity. For the time being, this anime is the last film from the famous Studio Ghibli (“Mein Freund Totoro”, “When the Wind Rises”), which is presently being restructured and withdrawing from film production. Based on the novel “When Marnie Was There” (1967) by the English author Joan G. Robinson, the film addresses major issues concerning origins and identity confronting adopted children in the course of life. Similar to Spyri’s Heidi, “When Marnie Was There” plays with rural vs. urban codes. Poetically and empathetically, Yonebayashi immerses us in his protagonist’s world of emotions. Surprisingly, the minor characters actually contribute substantially to the plot and amusement as well: for example, the enchanting relatives with whom Anna stays, the bright Sayaka from Tokyo or the elderly painter Hisako, all of whom have met the mysterious Marnie. With time, as the threads of the past and present gradually begin to untangle, Anna finally realises who Marnie really is – or was. (rr)
Voices: Sara Takatsuki, Kasumi Arimura