The Secret World of Arrietty
A whimsical, melancholic fantasy where the smallest details of life hold monumental weight. Through the quiet rustle of leaves and the perilous theft of a sugar cube, it weaves a tender tale of survival, unlikely friendship, and finding the courage to exist.
The Secret World of Arrietty
The Secret World of Arrietty

借りぐらしのアリエッティ

"Do not be seen by humans. That's been the law of children of the underfloor."

16 July 2010 France 94 min ⭐ 7.7 (3,090)
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Cast: Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Tomokazu Miura, Keiko Takeshita, Kirin Kiki
Animation Family Fantasy
Survival and Extinction The Boundaries Between Worlds Coming of Age and Responsibility Empathy vs. Destructive Curiosity
Budget: $23,000,000
Box Office: $149,660,003

The Secret World of Arrietty - Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

Sometimes you have to fight for the things that are worth fighting for.

— Arrietty

Context:

Arrietty says this to Shō during an emotional conversation where he mentions that the Borrowers are a dying race and expresses his own hopelessness regarding his heart condition.

Meaning:

This line encapsulates the core theme of the film: the necessity of resilience. It serves to challenge Shō's fatalistic acceptance of his impending death.

You gave me the courage to live.

— Shō

Context:

Spoken during their bittersweet, tearful farewell at the fence as the sun rises, just before Arrietty gives him her hairclip.

Meaning:

This reveals the profound impact Arrietty had on Shō. Despite her tiny size, her fierce determination to survive transferred to him, giving him the mental fortitude to face his surgery.

My mother, father and I are all borrowers. We borrow things like soap and cookies and sugar - things that beans don't miss if they're gone.

— Arrietty

Context:

Arrietty explaining her family's existence and way of life to Shō during their hidden conversation.

Meaning:

This quote establishes the unique philosophy and moral code of the Borrowers. They do not view themselves as thieves; they live sustainably, taking only the bare minimum required to survive.