When Marnie Was There (or) Omoide no Mânî (Japanese, 2014)

The core story which transcends generations is interesting and keeps you hooked for the most part. The quest to know the link between the present and the past is clouded brilliantly by surrealistic situations.

The fact that the protagonist is an artist has proved advantageous for the film as it relies on the magnificence of the scenery to capture the audience. Anna & Marnie are angelic making their combination sequences the highlight of the film. Also, the characterization of the good natured relatives from the countryside who take Anna, is heartwarming.

As with any Studio Ghibli film, music is of prime importance and Takatsugu Muramatsu’s score complements the visuals wonderfully well. Even though the surreal moments are on the low side for a film from Studio Ghibli, the music plays a vital part in attracting the audience towards them.

The true essence of what made Studio Ghibli universally liked seems to be missing. In spite of being a pathos-led subject, there are very less number of heartwarming elements in the film compared to even their last release The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. This leads to us not being able to totally invest in the film until probably the third act which reveals the suspense.