Arrietty Review

• 18th Jul 2011

Arrietty is based on the first of Mary Norton’s 1950s series of children’s books The Borrowers. Those of you of, ahem, a certain age will fondly remember the 1992 BBC version starring Bilbo Baggins himself, Ian Holm as Pod and Penelope Wilton as his wife Homily (there was also a 1997 film with John Goodman, Jim Broadbent and Celia Imrie). Arriety was their 14 year old daughter (I can’t remember who played her). For this Studio Ghibli animation, the action’s been transported to modern day Japan, although the characters remain the same. So, the Borrowers are 10cm tall and live under the floorboards of the house belonging to Sadako, an elderly lady. Her ill nephew Sho arrives to stay with her while he waits for an operation on his heart. After a chance sighting of Arrietty in the garden, he does everything he can to find her, despite her family’s rule to never let the big people see them. Eventually, a tentative friendship begins to blossom.

For those of you who haven’t come across Studio Ghibli before, it’s the company behind some of the most extraordinary animation of the last ten years. John Lasseter, chief creative officer at Pixar called Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki “the greatest animation director living today”. Some of its most famous output includes My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away. The stories often feature independent young women and are both eloquent and sophisticated meaning they work equally well for kids and adults.

As you’d expect from Studio Ghibli, the attention to detail is amazing. But Arrietty really goes above and beyond. Both the full sized and miniature settings are beautifully realised, right down to the drops of water on the ivy creeper which Arrietty clambers up to get to Sho’s bedroom. Even the smallest ladybird is embued with personality. The Borrower’s house is a feast for the eyes, full of things to look at. It’ll need a second or third viewing to take it all in. You really see things from the point of view of the little people as well – footsteps sound like thunder, while domesticated animals become terrifying beasts.

There’s an impressive English voice cast including Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Stardust, Kick-Ass) as the taciturn Pod, prepared to do anything to keep his family alive and together, Olivia Coleman (Sophie in Peep Show) as Homily, his slightly hysterical wife and Phyllida Law as Sho’s aunt Sadako. Geraldine McEwan (Miss Marple herself) is excellent as Haru; her metamorphosis from harmless housekeeper to the villain of the piece is seamless.

Miyazaki, master animator and legendary co-founder of Studio Ghibli with Isao Takahata, had wanted to adapt The Borrowers for forty years. So far, almost all Ghibli films have had a combination of the two founders directing, but now, as both are in their 70s, they’ve turned to animator Hiromasa Yonebayashi, at 37, the youngest person to direct a film for Ghibli so far. It sticks fairly close to the source material, even retaining the Borrower’s use of the phrase “human beans” (I’m not sure how that worked in the Japanese dub). The story itself is pretty simple, but the relationship between Sho and Arrietty feels truly special which more than makes up for this. Ghibli is well known for its environmental messages and Arrietty is no different – there’s a speech about saving endangered species shoehorned into the middle somewhere which feels slightly unnecessary. But as the rest of the film is so lovely, I’m going to let them off.

Arrietty will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Children will be delighted by the story and the characters – adults will revel in the breathtaking animation. Never have I been so invested in the fate of a humble sugar cube.

Enchanting.

Emma Wilkin