When Marnie Was There

What’s it about?

A shy 12-year-old girl, Anna, is sent to spend time with her aunt and uncle who live in the countryside, where she meets Marnie, who becomes her best friend. However, Anna slowly discovers that Marnie might not be who he appeared to be.

The facts

• Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
• Japanese language, with English subtitles
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• Animated film by Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo)
• Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Why did it get this rating?

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Low level violence

An old lady has multiple flashbacks to when a girl and a boy are killed in a car accident, a man dies due to illness, and a girl and her mother quarrel. These scenes are not graphic.

One young girl suffers from an asthma attack, coughing and collapsing.

A little boy trips over and cries at a playground.

Drug use

Multiple characters are seen smoking and drinking alcohol. One character jokingly calls another a “drunkard.”

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters