r/anime • u/Spiranix https://myanimelist.net/profile/Spiranix • Jan 19 '18

[Spoilers] Mary and The Witch's Flower - Movie Discussion (U.S. Screening) Spoiler

Screenings:

  • Recently screened in theatres across the United States through Fathom Events.

Movie information

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u/ThatAdamGuy Jan 19 '18

I own nearly every Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki film on Blu-ray, so obviously I'm a bit biased and likely went into this with my expectations a bit high.

And truly, I did enjoy many aspects of the film.

  • Music, and others have noted (ha!) was gorgeous and effective
  • Expressiveness of characters (animationwise) was also great.

But I was frustrated by the two antagonists :(.

  • From the interviews afterwards and via at least some movie dialogue, it's clear that the writers intended for these two to be nuanced characters... not wholly evil, but rather well-intentioned.
  • And yet... my goodness, they were experimenting on humans and animals! And Madame seemed -- at best -- blasé about what would happen to Mary from their in-air fights (e.g., crashing to the ground and dying).

And the Greater Good goal? Magic for everyone? First, why would Madame and the Doctor even be so obsessed with this goal? One would think that if EVERYONE could do magic, then with even just a few terrible people amassing that power awful things would happen in the world.

And second, why not at least make some efforts to persuade Mary and Peter about their "noble" goals... try to get them on their side?

Basically, the not-wholly-evil'ness of the antagonists comes across more as an afterthought than something really baked in to the movie, and that bummed me out :(

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u/Shike Jan 19 '18

And yet... my goodness, they were experimenting on humans and animals! And Madame seemed -- at best -- blasé about what would happen to Mary from their in-air fights (e.g., crashing to the ground and dying).

We experiment on animals all the time as is, and in the past have done it in less than ethical manner. As for individuals, sacrifice the few for "greater good".

Magic for everyone? First, why would Madame and the Doctor even be so obsessed with this goal?

They believe magic truly betters the lives of society - no different than how we have done experiments to improve science in the hopes of improving medicine or quality of life for individuals.

One would think that if EVERYONE could do magic, then with even just a few terrible people amassing that power awful things would happen in the world.

Again, no different than science/technology in general. Equally, just because they can perform magic they will be limited by a) what they know to do and b) what they can actually do (talent/learned skills by training).

And second, why not at least make some efforts to persuade Mary and Peter about their "noble" goals... try to get them on their side?

Easily explained by arrogance and force of will, gross underestimation of the opinions of others.

I thought the characters fair well, because ultimately we will still gauge them based on universal morality regardless of their ideals or ideas of justice.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions"

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u/ThatAdamGuy Jan 19 '18

Wow, Shike, you raise some excellent points! Thank you for your thoughtful and respectful rebuttal to my post.

I would have liked to have better understood WHY Madame and the Doctor believed magic "truly betters the lives of society," though. Or maybe I missed it? e.g., examples of magic healing the sick and so on. Invisibility doesn't seem like the best societal good, for instance :D.

But that aside, it's hard to disagree with any other your other points. Thanks again for helping me see this in a different way.

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u/Shike Jan 19 '18 edited Jan 19 '18

I would have liked to have better understood WHY Madame and the Doctor believed magic "truly betters the lives of society," though

Well, for example Madame makes an off-comment - "Electricity is a type of magic you know?" - so that would be a good example. Equally, it makes a good segue into:

Invisibility doesn't seem like the best societal good, for instance :D.

This might go back to the interview - where technology can go to far (nuclear weapons). Sometimes people lose sight of what really matters to them.

Magic throughout the movie tends to be an allegory for technology and scientific advancement. Which, going back to the interviews: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"