Arietti the Little Man Who Borrowed Things is an animated film produced by Studio Ghibli in Japan, adapted from the fantasy novel "The Little Man Under the Floor" by British author Mary Norton, and the first film directed by Hiromasa Mibayashi. The film was officially released in Japan on July 17, 2010, and Time magazine commented on the film: although it did not reach the heights of Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Valley of the Wind, the advantages of Ghibli animation are still reflected in this film.
"Arietti the Little Man Who Borrowed Something"
In that house lived two old women. In order not to let the hostess Mu Sadako's maid Ah Chun discover, the Arietti family can only borrow some necessities that are enough to sustain themselves little by little, such as soap, cookies, sugar, electricity, gasoline and so on. This summer, a 12-year-old boy Xiang came to the house for convalescence, Xiang, who suffered from heart disease, and came to the old house where his mother lived, for the purpose of recuperation, because he suffered from heart disease and was going to have surgery in a week. Xiang stumbles upon Arietti, a little man in the grass. Arietti slowly comes into contact with Xiang due to her natural curiosity combined with her reckless personality.
In a deserted courtyard on the outskirts of the city was a large, deserted old house inhabited by an old woman, Sadako, and a maid of about her age, Achun. This summer, the twelve-year-old Boy Xiang came to this house to recuperate. Under its floor, Xiang found the family of "borrowing things" who had always lived in the house.
Arietti, who was 14 years old before, lives quietly with her father Potter and mother Homily, who are very cautious and afraid of being discovered by the owner of the house, and often borrow soap, desserts, sugar, electricity, gas and other necessities to live their own happy little life.
As Arietti is discovered by Xiang, they have to face moving out of this "home" where they have lived for a long time, because they cannot be seen by humans, and once they are seen, they must move - this is the rule of the villain world. The father blamed his daughter for putting the family in danger, but Arietti said, "I don't think everyone is so dangerous." ”
Xiang was plagued by illness for a long time, and his face always carried a faint melancholy. He always puts death on his lips, and behind the seeming freedom is his lack of confidence in himself and the timidity and panic that hides his heart. Arietti, on the other hand, is naturally energetic and courageous. Arietti sympathizes with Xiang's experience, she takes the initiative to approach Xiang, and the two gradually become good friends.
The calm and beautiful days are always short- and the Arieti family is preparing to move, the mother was unfortunately captured by the nanny of the owner of the house, Ah Chun, so Arietti found Xiang, hoping to get his help, with the help of Xiang, Arieti finally rescued her mother, and finally on the day of sending off Arieti, Arieti was very grateful to Xiang for saving her mother, at this time Xiang's eyes were clear, full of the vitality that a young man should have and the courage to live, he said to her: You will always be in my heart. Xiang's surgery was also a success, and the narrative at the beginning is Xiang's memories of growing up!
After watching the movie, I think the most important thing the movie wants to express should be that everyone and every creature has the right to survive. Whether it's Xiang, who suffers from a heart attack, or the Arietti family, who are considered "stealing" by the owner of the house. Survival is a common right of every species, and what we can do is not to disturb and maintain the respect and reverence we deserve.
Although it is forever, you will always remain in my heart.