Emma Wilson
The 2014 Studio Ghibli film 'When Marnie Was There' features a scene where the main characters, Anna and Marnie, go mushrooming together in the woods. This scene has inspired a piece of jewellery called 'Marnie's Mushroom', made of green glass bugle beads, irregular freshwater pearls, white shell stone, sun stone crystals, and a beaded red mushroom pendant. The film received positive reviews and grossed over $35 million worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occurrence in the movie | Anna and Marnie go mushrooming together in the woods |
| Symbolism | The mushroom pendant in the movie inspired a piece of jewellery made of green glass bugle beads, freshwater pearls, white shell stone, sun stone crystals, and a beaded red mushroom pendant |
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What You'll Learn
Anna and Marnie go mushrooming together
In the Studio Ghibli movie When Marnie Was There, Anna, an adopted girl, is sent to the countryside to live with an elderly couple to recover from her asthma. There, she meets Marnie, a blonde-haired girl who lives in a mansion across a salt marsh. The two girls agree to keep their meetings secret.
During one of their encounters, Anna and Marnie go mushrooming together in the woods. While mushrooming, Anna reveals that she is an orphan, and Marnie discloses that she is abused by her maids. The pair also walk across the marsh bed at low tide, which seems impossible, as Marnie only appears at high tide.
The morning after mushrooming, Anna meets Marnie again, and Marnie explains that she cannot wander far from the Marsh House. Anna accepts this and takes the lead on where to go. They head to the silo, where they are briefly interrupted by Sayaka, another girl whom Anna meets during a party at Marnie's mansion.
The diary that Sayaka gives Anna, written by Marnie decades earlier, aligns with what Anna experienced.
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Marnie's identity
In the Studio Ghibli movie When Marnie Was There, Marnie is a girl who lives in a mansion across a salt marsh. She is born to wealthy parents who are egotistical and do not know how to be mother and father. They are more concerned with being fashionable than establishing an emotional connection with their child. Marnie is abused by her maids and is not allowed to go very far from the Marsh House. She also only appears at high tide.
Marnie meets Anna, the main character of the film, at the Tanabata festival and the two agree to keep their meetings secret. Marnie invites Anna to a party at her mansion, where she dances with a boy named Kazuhiko. Anna sketches Marnie, and later shows her the drawing. The two go mushrooming in the woods together, where Anna reveals she is an orphan. Marnie disappears for good after walking to the silo with Anna.
It is unclear whether Marnie is a ghost or not, and the nature of her identity is left ambiguous. However, it is discovered that she wrote a diary decades earlier that aligns with Anna's experiences. This diary was found by a girl named Sayaka, who gives it to Anna.
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Marnie's diary
Dear Diary,
Today I ventured out to the old abandoned mansion across the salt marsh. I felt drawn to it, as if something or someone was calling me there. I saw a blonde-haired girl inside, but the tide held me back. I felt a strange connection to her, and I couldn't help but sketch her from a distance. I wonder who she is and if our paths will cross again.
The next day, I attended the Tanabata festival, and there she was. I couldn't believe my eyes. We introduced ourselves, and I learned her name is Anna. We agreed to keep our meetings a secret, and she seemed just as intrigued by me as I am by her. I invited her to a party at the mansion, and we danced the night away. I feel a strange pull towards Anna, and I can't help but wonder if she feels the same.
Dear Diary,
It's been a few days since I last wrote. Anna and I have grown closer, and I shared with her my love of mushrooming in the woods. We walked through the marsh bed at low tide, collecting mushrooms and sharing our secrets. I told her about my maids and how they abuse their power over me. Anna confided in me that she is an orphan, and I could sense the pain in her heart. We comforted each other, and I felt a strong bond forming between us.
Dear Diary,
Something mysterious is happening. Anna found an old postcard of the Marsh House, and it stirred up memories for her. She also discovered documents showing that her foster parents are paid to care for her. She is hurt and confused, questioning their love for her. I want to be there for her and help her heal from these wounds. I shared with her that my parents are wealthy but emotionally distant, more concerned with their social status than their own child. We are both searching for something—a sense of belonging and understanding.
Dear Diary,
Today, Anna and I explored the silo together. Sayaka, a friend of Anna's, interrupted our time briefly, but we managed to sneak away. As we walked, I felt a sense of freedom and adventure with Anna by my side. However, I also felt a twinge of sadness, knowing that our time together may not last forever. I have a feeling that something is about to change, and I'm scared of what the future may hold.
Dear Diary,
I write this with a heavy heart. I have disappeared from Anna's life, but I couldn't bear to leave without a goodbye. I begged her to forgive me, and she generously offered her forgiveness. I know that our connection will stay with us both, even as we part ways. Our time together was fleeting but impactful, and I will forever cherish the memories we made in this quiet, mysterious place.
Marnie
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Marnie's existence
In the Studio Ghibli film When Marnie Was There, Marnie is a mysterious girl who lives in an abandoned mansion across a salt marsh. She is first seen by Anna, the film's protagonist, who becomes trapped in the mansion by the tide and is later rescued by an elderly fisherman. Anna meets Marnie at the Tanabata festival and the two agree to keep their meetings secret. Marnie invites Anna to a party at the mansion, where she dances with a boy named Kazuhiko and Anna sketches her.
The nature of Marnie's existence is further complicated by the discovery of her diary, which was written decades earlier and aligns with Anna's experiences. This raises questions about whether Marnie is a ghost or some other supernatural entity. The film leaves it ambiguous, allowing for multiple interpretations of Marnie's true nature.
In conclusion, Marnie's existence in When Marnie Was There is a central mystery that drives the film's narrative. Her character serves as a foil to Anna, helping her confront her own emotional struggles and find solace in their shared experiences. The dream-like quality of their encounters and the secrets surrounding Marnie's past contribute to the film's exploration of memory, identity, and the power of human connection.
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Anna's self-discovery
Anna, the protagonist of the Studio Ghibli film 'When Marnie Was There', embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting her identity as an orphan and her feelings of abandonment.
The film begins with Anna, an adopted girl, being sent to the countryside to live with an elderly couple to recover from her asthma. There, she discovers an abandoned mansion across a salt marsh, which triggers a sense of familiarity. She becomes trapped by the tide and is rescued by an elderly fisherman, Toichi. Anna spots a blonde-haired girl, Marnie, in the mansion, and they agree to keep their encounters secret.
During the Tanabata festival, Anna meets a girl named Sayaka, who gives her Marnie's diary, hidden in a drawer. Reading the diary, Anna discovers entries describing Marnie's experiences, including rowing alone and hosting a party. Notably, Anna has a flashback to one of the events described, realising she had been the flower girl mentioned. This realisation adds complexity to her self-discovery, as she questions her role in Marnie's past and the nature of their connection.
As Anna delves deeper into Marnie's diary, she uncovers truths about her own life. She learns that her foster parents are compensated for her care, leading her to question their motives and whether their love for her is genuine. This revelation prompts Anna to confront her feelings of abandonment, not only by her biological family but also by her foster family, as she assumes they are only interested in the financial benefits.
Through her interactions with Marnie and the exploration of the mansion, Anna gradually pieces together the puzzle of her identity and emotions. She discovers that Marnie, too, has experienced a sense of abandonment, as she reveals that she was abused by her maids and struggled with neglectful parents. This shared experience creates a bond between the girls, fostering a sense of understanding and camaraderie in their shared journey towards self-acceptance.
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Frequently asked questions
Anna, an adopted girl, is sent to the countryside to live with an old couple to heal from her asthma. There, she meets a girl, Marnie, and investigates an abandoned mansion across a salt marsh. She discovers that Marnie is abused by her maids and that her parents are wealthy but emotionally distant. Anna also learns that her foster parents are paid to care for her.
During the mushrooming scene, Anna reveals to Marnie that she is an orphan.
The mushrooming scene is significant because it is a source of inspiration for jewellery and merchandise, such as the Marnie's Mushroom pendant.
Yes, When Marnie Was There received positive reviews, with a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film also performed well at the box office, grossing over $35 million worldwide.
