The Small will Stand Tallest of All
Last week, I was invited to a media screening of “The Secret World of Arriety” at the Walt Disney Studio’s in Burbank, California. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to go as I do love myself some Disney movies. My 5 year old son came along as my “cover” haha.
The film “The Secret World of Arrietty” is based on the award winning children’s novel by Mary Norton “The Borrowers” published in 1952. The original book and its 4 sequels are about tiny people that live in peoples homes unbeknownst to them and secretly “borrow” things in order to survive.
In the film “The Secret World of Arrietty” Arrietty (voiced by Bridgit Mendler) is a teenage girl, living at home with her parents (voiced by Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) and is seemingly to their knowledge the only borrowers left. They borrow things like sugar cubes and tissue paper and doing so takes great tact and skill.
On Arrietty’s first borrowing experience, she gets seen by Shawn the new young “bean” in the human house. They form a secret friendship that can potentially threaten her families safety and may force them to move from their comfortable home under the floorboards.
“The Secret World of Arrietty” is a coming of age story about friendship, love and acceptance and is profoundly interesting. The film is quiet and emotional and something worth watching with the entire family.
My son’s favorite character was the cat because as he says “it was funny and made funny faces”. Go figure we are an animal loving family after all. I enjoyed the music and sounds that made the characters come to life. For instance, the sound of the sugar cube that Arrietty had just borrowed moments before dropping onto the floor was profound. And who knew that sugar cubes can sound so dramatic?
In my opinion, this movie is very anti-pop culture. It is not fast and loud, it doesn’t shout from the rooftops or scream in your face but is rather quiet and softly provokes emotions of acceptance, love and friendship.
So do me a favor and go see “The Secret World of Arrietty” it will be in theaters near you on February 17th.
The secret friendship between Arrietty and Shawn
