lyrast I watched a Korean anime film "My Beautiful Giirl Mari" and it is really quite magical. It's an emotionally demanding film which requires the viewer to enter two worlds—apparently diametrically opposed. One is the inner world of the imagination of a child. A world where the rules don't apply, where one is carried on cushions of clouds. The other is the external "real" world that we perceive around us with our senses and is ruled by apparently immutable physical and social imperatives. It is the conflict of these two perspectives which drives the film and gives it its remarkable emotional power.Perhaps the most poignant way we see the differences that underlie the two worlds is in the conflicting forms of love relationships that the film explores. Nam-woo clearly loves Mari. But even he admits that this love is impossible and can never be fulfilled. His relationship with Mari becomes a symbol of the search for beauty and love and joy which drives our being but which can never be satisfied. Mari is that unobtainable Grail for which we all search but can never obtain.Against that is the love of Nam-woo's widowed mother for the young fisherman. Here is the love of the earth. The love which is part of the cut and thrust of living—a love which {as the grumpy Granny points out} is simply necessary.As I said, the two universes seem separate. But at the climax they intersect. At that focal point we see that the two worlds are, in reality, complementary. The adult needs the fantasy universe as much as the child needs to relate to the external world around him or her. And in this magical conclusion we see the true unity that is needed to be truly completely human.

hektorthillet "My Beautiful Girl Mari" tells the story, or requiem if you will, of young Nam-woo's fast approaching adulthood, and the growing fear we all experienced growing up of ending up alone if we ever left that fantasy world that is our childhood were imagination is always company in the most bitter of days. We are softly submerged into a memory-like setting as the movie opens with what I would describe as one of the most haunting and calming intro montages I have ever seen in an animated film of this nature. You fly away on the path of a seagull, and for a moment you're thinking of your own life and memories with no motive; as Lee Byeong-Woo's opening score paints familiar images and summons warm thoughts of a beautiful memory that's past.You are introduced to Nam-woo, a young boy living a simple life in the beautiful coast of South Korea. There we meet other simple subjects like his young caring mother, his pet cat Yo, his grumpy grandmother, and best friend Jun-ho. They are all at a turning point in their lives. Nam-woo's mother is starting to date again after her husband's death. The grandmother is ailing quickly and trying to guide in the right path those she will leave behind. Nam-woo himself, deals with abandonment issues, after the death of his father, the though of his mother moving on with another man therefore forgetting him and his father; and the upcoming departure of his best friend as their lives as kids end and adulthood begins. As with most kids Nam-woo finds comfort in his own fantasies embodied by an angel-like girl and the world she inhabits who represent a more enduring and lasting bond. But as reality happens and nature runs its course fantasies fade, and Nam-woo must move on with the rest of his loved ones despite his wishes that the things he loves would never leave him.This is probably something most of us still deal with … things and people in our lives we refuse to let go. The character Nam-woo embodies that notion in a most realistic and gripping way. His loneliness and refusal of closeness with others by fear of abandonment is something many kids his age experience and later endure as grown ups. And I like very much the approach of this movie to these issues, in where there is not necessarily a happy compromise or an absolution; instead a world of options and question marks we might or might not figure out for the sake of the rest of our lives.Exquisite animation, haunting score, reflective subjects, and a calming escape for the mind are all part of what this work of art has to offer to those seeking something more meaningful in animation. Reminiscent of other great works such as "Whisper of The Heart", and as refreshing and inspiring as a Ghibli film; this beautiful story from Korea shows that everyone out there has visions of animation just as pure and resonant as the big boys.

Jay Sondh-Panesar Just as the above user states - a unique and visually stunning animation piece from Korea! Highly recommended!Namoo, a young boy living with his mother and grandmother, explores an old lighthouse with his friend Junho and his cat, Yeo. They discover a mysterious marble which transports them to a rich and vibrant fantasy world.Unavailable outside of Korea? - Well, I recently (May 2004) imported the Region 3 DVD to the UK from Hong Kong for a very low price. Beautiful cover - that's what initially grabbed my attention! I'm certainly glad it did! My copy's entitled "Love Fantasy* My Beautiful Girl, Mari". Seek it out!

anthropomorphisminc South Korea is a country mostly known in the animation industry for provided low cost labor in the completion of animation from other countries. Mari Iyagi is one, bright, shining attempt to show the originality and amazing work that Korean animators are capable of. It's a lone gun in the ambitiousness of such a project, and sadly, due to it's disappointing box office figures, may be for a long time.To describe the visual style of the film, I can only say to take a little touch of Samurai Jack, a heaping helping of Myazaki, and a dash of Waking life (minus the lack of fluidity in animation and pretentiousness of story) to flavor. Then realize that doesn't begin to describe the unique look of this film, that can't be classified as traditional, digital, or 3d. It's a remarkable blend of Flash, Traditional, rotoscoping, and 3D Studio Max that captures both realistic environments and fantasy worlds like none other. The story builds up nicely, until it reaches the end and never goes anywhere, but for all the times it made me laugh out loud, feel for a character, or gape in awe, I forgave it.It's not looking as though this film will get much of a release outside Korea, but if you ever get the chance to see it, don't let it slip by.