​Tale of two girls

When Marnie was There continues Studio Ghibli's excellence in storytelling

Adolescence can be a trying period in our youth. I can remember the three years of hell that was middle school; having to adapt to taking six different classes daily, getting braces, trying to fit into the countless social groups in the quad area, etc. To quote what our main protagonist in the film says, "In this world, there is an invisible magic circle. There's an inside and an outside; those people are inside the circle...and I'm outside." Anna Sasaki (Hailee Steinfeld), a foster child who alienates herself from the outside world, is sent to live with some relatives in a seaside town due to her asthma. During a walk around town, Anna comes across an abandoned mansion near a marsh that can only be accessed when the tide is out which is where she meets a mysterious girl named Marnie (Kiernan Shipka) and the two

immediately connect and become friends. But not all is what it seems, especially with the enigmatic Marnie whose sudden appearance in Anna's life is more than just coincidental. Being a fan of Studio Ghibli's work, I had been meaning to review When Marnie Was There way back in 2015 but sadly I couldn't find the right opportunity to see the film during its' incredibly limited theatrical run (I couldn't even find it on VOD), and I hadn't even notice it was out on bluray already. That aside, I'm glad I was finally able to catch this gem as it is another classic from the masterminds at Ghibli. Although it doesn't carry the trademarks we regularly see in other Ghibli titles such as Spirited Away or Ponyo, it does run in the same vein as Whispers of the Heart and From Up on Poppy Hill, tackling themes such as individuality than on the whimsical we're use to seeing. It's a tale of finding your self-identity intelligently disguised as a kid's animated film but can be understood universally by any person of any age. When Marnie Was There gets my highest recommendation and requires your immediate viewing (as well as a box of tissues).

​-Reviewed by Razor, 1/12/16