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dfriemark
Reviews
Karigurashi no Arietti (2010)
Excellent Movie
As another user from Japan, who was able to see the movie, I have a few fair things to say.
The movie in general was excellent. For those concerned parents out there, this movie is fully suitable for children.
The beginning has beautiful music, but like some Gibli films, the into is kind of long. It is implied/mentioned in the Beginning the the boy, Sho, is suffering from some kind of Heart problem, and that he is resting at his Grandparents house before he goes into surgery to hopefully correct the problem.
Although, a beautiful movie, is it also kind of a sad one too. Aside from Sho having a Heart problem, you have the little family trying to survive on what they can find from the house.
Within the first scene or two, Sho makes contact with Arretty, telling her he knows who she is, and that she should not be scared of him, and that he means no harm. At first Arrietty is scared of the boy, and is hesitant to talk back to him, but through the kind gestures he makes, and the fact that he saved her life from a crow, she begins to trust him. Throughout the movie, the relationship between them both builds up.
Towards the ending, Sho's Grandmothers maid (I think she is a maid, possibly a friend), suspects something is happening with Sho and these "Little People" that she recalls his mother talking about ages ago. As a result, she takes things into her own hands to try to find these people. Eventually she finds Arrietty's mother under the floorboard. As a result she takes her and locks her up in a jar. it is at this point the movie can get a bit sad.
In light of this, Arrietty goes to Sho to ask for help, discovering he's been locked in his room by the maid, he climbs out the window from his second floor room to get downstairs. After searching in the shelves and cupboards, he takes Arrietty to the Pantry where she finds, and is reunited with her mother.
As a result of this, the family is forced to leave their home and find a new place to live. In the final scene, just before they are about to leave, Arrietty sends Sho's cat to him, to bring him to her. In the early morning hours, Sho runs through the back yard/garden, where he finally reaches Arrietty. As they say their final good byes, Sho thanks her, and tells her that because of her, he feels better about going into surgery.
Overall. I give this movie a 10/10