Arrietty (2011)

NOTE: The Borrowers are NOT thieves. Please bear this in mind when you read this review.

Borrowers are petite people who “borrow” things so that they can live. The borrowers weren’t always little, though; they shrunk with each generation of borrowers. But that’s beside the point. Arrietty really kicks off when the Clock family’s daughter Arrietty (go figure) meets the boy Sho (pronounced shoe), who has been sent to the house the borrowers live in so that he can get better in the days before the operation on his heart. Of course, they both have to keep their friendship secret, for it is unheard of for a borrower to be seen, let alone be friends, with a “human bean”.

I have noticed that in many Studio Ghibli films, a recurring theme is nature, for example in Arrietty and When Marnie Was There a child has been sent away to the countryside because they are suffering from illness/asthma.

My favourite character is Arrietty because she is bubbly and rebellious. I, however, nurse an animosity for Harry, the housekeeper, especially when she captures Arrietty’s mum and puts her in an empty jam jar! How dare she! Saying that, I could take or leave Mrs. May.

I would recommend this to children and adults alike, especially those who have read the book The Borrowers, which Arrietty is based on. Those who are looking for something more specific, I’d say it’s for ages 0-∞! (Mind you, that might be more vague!)