Films like When Marnie Was There.

When Marnie Was There (2014) reads as Sombre, measured, measured animation / drama, inventive in texture. Ambivalent, intimate, measured. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Undertow (2009) poster
1. Undertow2009

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Journey to the Shore (2015) poster
2. Journey to the Shore2015

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

My Life as a Zucchini (2016) poster
3. My Life as a Zucchini2016

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

I Dream in Another Language (2017) poster
4. I Dream in Another Language2017

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Big Big World (2016) poster
5. Big Big World2016

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Undine (2020) poster
6. Undine2020

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

After Yang (2021) poster
7. After Yang2021

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Happy as Lazzaro (2018) poster
8. Happy as Lazzaro2018

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

A Monster Calls (2016) poster
9. A Monster Calls2016

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

A Monster Calls (re-pass) (2016) poster
10. A Monster Calls (re-pass)2016

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned (2016) poster
11. Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned2016

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

La Chimera —repeat guard2023
12. La Chimera — repeat guard2023

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are When Marnie Was There’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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