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Studio Ghibli’s latest animated feature, “The Secret World of Arrietty,” was released in American theaters by Disney earlier this year and on DVD/Blu-Ray on May 22. Now that I’ve bought and seen it, I can review this latest Japanese masterpiece brought to us by Disney.
Well, no matter how much I love Ghibli’s work I think masterpiece might be pushing it a little far. However, “Arrietty” is a fun movie for all ages and definitely deserves a view by any fans of Miyazaki’s work. The renowned animator didn’t direct the film but he did write the screenplay, based on the classic children’s book “The Borrowers” by Mary Norton.
In “The Secret World of Arrietty,” the titular character is a young girl of probably about 14 or 15. She’s not just any girl, however, she’s a Borrower: that means she looks human, but that she could fit in an actual human’s palm. She and her parents live in a tiny charming house under the floorboards of a human’s house. Her people get their name from how they “borrow” the supplies they need from humans; a sugar cube taken out of its jar while the humans sleep, for example, is enough to sweeten the tea of the Borrowers for a year.
Arrietty is a strong spirited girl and that’s beginning to cause problems. Borrowers live in fear of humans, because the few they’ve encountered viewed Borrowers as thieving pests. Trips out into the yard can be fraught with danger from cats and crows, and even grasshoppers are large enough to pose a threat.
Arrietty’s parents want her to stay inside the house at all times, and she’s lonely. They haven’t seen any other Borrowers for years and worry that they’re the last. If Arrietty’s parents are going to effectively ground her just to keep her safe, you think they’d at least have another child so she’d have some company.
So it’s no surprise that when Shawn, a human boy of comparable age, comes to the house under which Arrietty lives, she’s drawn to him. Shawn’s sick and has been sent to the countryside to rest until he has a surgery that still might not be enough to save his life. He’s heard stories of Borrowers before and is fascinated by them.
In fact, at first his interest is greater than Arrietty’s; although she can sense Shawn poses no direct threat to her, she’s wary of Shawn. She knows if her parents find out that the humans know of their existence they’ll make the family move away. Yet Shawn and Arrietty can’t help interacting with each other; they’re both lonely and just want a friend.
The story is great for kids (and really anyone of all ages, but it’s appropriate for younger children) because it’s about overcoming prejudices and finding friendship in kindred spirits. As is common in most Ghibli movies, the villain is not someone who’s clearly evil; it’s a case of misunderstanding between two different cultures (in “Arrietty’s” case it’s the housekeeper who, though she dutifully takes care of Shawn, tries to get rid of the Borrowers that she sees as pests).
I love that that message is so prevalent in Miyazaki films, because it teaches viewers that the world is rarely so clear cut, and that we should try to understand those with whom we’re having disagreements. If you’re looking for a new film to share with your family, “The Secret World of Arrietty” is an excellent choice.
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*(This image by crabchick is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
