Ok so all school's here have a week's vacation and the libraries show kid's movies for free. I saw Arrietty (or The borrowers, I don't know what it's name is in english) today and one thing confused me. What time is this supposed to be about? In the beginning, it seems like Shon (the boy) is now an adult and is telling a story from his childhood. The cars and interior of the house reminds me of the 1950's or 60's. But there's a microwave in the kitchen. And when Haru asks the mailman if he knows a good pest control-company, it looks like he's checking the details from a mobile phone with internet access . Ermmm, I'm confused.

the time period it captures is present.

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Watch everything but only take the good things from it

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its a uniquely Miyazaki film, one only he could make and its uniqueness places it beyond being easily critiqued.[About Porco Rosso]
taken from a quote of Saddletank and Orphic Okapi

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Originally posted by saviour2012
the time period it captures is present.

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Definitively set in the present, the cars used are a good hint. And its fair to assume Shon is remembering the whole story of what is now the past to him in his adulthood, but still present time for us.

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I believe maybe it was a few years ago. Or maybe he is now a young adult?

But why are there no computers? You'd expect a sick young boy like Shon to spend much of his time on the computer, but Shon is only reading the whole time

It seems to start off as a rememberance of Sho's from when he lived there prior to his heart surgery. It tells his tale of meeting a Borrower (Arietty) and the short contact he had with her. I would set the time at around the 1990's or so from the cars, microwave, lack of a computer, etc. As for the 'internet' connection, I would say that the parcel deliveryman was actually using his cellphone directory of saved numbers to look up the local exterminators name and number.

This was my take on the time frame and it would indicate that the heart surgery was successful.

I will do more looking...

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Well its an old ladys home, she wouldn't necessarily have much need for computers and such.

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Shon shouldn't really be using a computer if he has problems with his health, prolonged exposure to a computer usually has unforgiving effects in the long run.

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There could well be a laptop or PC in the house. We just aren't shown it. Sho may well have brought his with him, but its purpose is not relevant to the story so it was excluded.

Also many young people sit at home in front of computers. Mizaki wanted to depict an ill child, so having him confined to bed and reading books may have been a better means of showing that.

A storyteller's purpose is to tell a story, not to clutter up his world with unnecessary details.

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Originally posted by Calforsale
Well its an old ladys home, she wouldn't necessarily have much need for computers and such.

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Originally posted by Saddletank
There could well be a laptop or PC in the house. We just aren't shown it. Sho may well have brought his with him, but its purpose is not relevant to the story so it was excluded.

Also many young people sit at home in front of computers. Mizaki wanted to depict an ill child, so having him confined to bed and reading books may have been a better means of showing that.

A storyteller's purpose is to tell a story, not to clutter up his world with unnecessary details.

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Originally posted by Heidi80

quote:

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Originally posted by Saddletank
There could well be a laptop or PC in the house. We just aren't shown it. Sho may well have brought his with him, but its purpose is not relevant to the story so it was excluded.

Also many young people sit at home in front of computers. Mizaki wanted to depict an ill child, so having him confined to bed and reading books may have been a better means of showing that.

A storyteller's purpose is to tell a story, not to clutter up his world with unnecessary details.

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Arrietty isn't Miyazaki's movie, it's by a first time director (don't remember his name). Miyazaki was the producer.

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My mistake about the director. The point doesn't change though.

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Isakaya High School Roleplaying Info

"An old man like me stands no chance fighting against a high school girl in her underwear" - Oshino Meme, Nekomonogatari (Kuro)