Arietty, Hunger Games, Missing AWP…

Just got home from seeing The Secret World of Arietty, Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s new film, based on the English novel that I loved as a child, The Borrowers. This version has an extra touch of heart provided by the threat of Borrower extinction and the illness of the main human character of the film. A surprising dialogue on death and dying at the center of the film provides depth to what is essentially a light adventure children’s film, along the lines of My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service (for those of you familiar with Miyazaki’s other films for children.) The animation was, of course, beautiful and bucolic, a speciality of Ghibli studios.

Contrasting this is the drumbeat of promotions for The Hunger Games, the new movie based on the hyperviolent trilogy about a killer teen heroine and her futuristic dystopia scarier than anything Atwood’s come up with. Katniss Everdeen is like Buffy without the quips and fashion sense, an action hero for the Millenial generation. There’s nothing calm, soothing, or sweet about this trilogy of movies or books; I found them disturbing as an adult, including scenes of dismemberment, torture, brainwashing… and they must be super disturbing for the younger readers they’re meant for. I’m torn because part of me cheers for the female teen heroine Katniss, who is tough, unconcerned about the young men falling in love with her as she tries to save herself, her family and eventually, her political cause. She’s too busy trying to survive to worry about boys; her moral sense comes more as a contrast to the evil, corrupt adults around her than any specific goodness. As a metaphor for young people navigating a kill-or-be-killed adult world with a kind of horror and disorientation, it works pretty well. However, I’d much rather my imaginary children watch Arietty, at least into their midteens, than the Hunger Games.

Missing AWP this week has been tough, especially as my heroine Margaret Atwood was the keynote, and hearing on Facebook all week about the parties, readings, etc, made it hard not to be there. But this year I’m tightening my belt to afford my first house in twelve years, and a house in this area, even after years of house prices dropping, still isn’t cheap. This means I’m relying on you bloggers lucky enough to go to post your impressions, anything great, etc! And pics!