Hayao Miyazaki often draws inspiration abroad, and the storyline for this film comes from the British Isles from the pen of Mary Norton. In our lives, we ‘large’ people almost never cross paths with the little Borrower people. These little people live beneath the floors and within the walls of old houses. They borrow everything they need for living in our world. Accordingly, secrecy means life to them. This is also true about little Arrietty who lives with her family under the floor of the house owned by Shô’s grandmother. While on her very first borrowing foray into the ‘big’ world, Arrietty makes a little mistake and Shô sees her. The sick boy does not want to put Arrietty in danger – he is just lonely and looking for a friend. His kindness is in a stark contrast to the janitor’s obsession with trying to find the Borrowers and resolve the mystery of things disappearing. Miyazaki’s script is kinder than the book’s plot, offering hope for a new life – once the Borrowers are seen, they need to move away. That means an adventure as well as danger.
© 2010 Studio Ghibli – NDHDMTW
