There is not much of a plot to this film. And the little sister doesn't care about winning the game, or really even understand what she is doing, she just knows it's fun to run around with big sis. The older sister deliberately looks places where the stairs won't be, to lengthen the game. Mei follows behind, opening the doors she has just seen her sister close, and repeating her sister's shouts.Īs described, this scene may not seem like much, but it's a perfect example of how children act. Satsuki runs around the house squealing, opening every door and cupboard, shouting "Not here!" and moving on.
As they are exploring the house for the first time, the father pretends he can't remember how to get into the attic, and asks the girls to find the door to the stairs. Two girls, Satsuki, about ten, and Mei, a preschooler, move into a ramshackle house with their father.
Here's a specific example, from early in My Neighbor Totoro. My Neighbor Totoro sees childhood from the inside out. Looking back, these films are about how we as adults remember childhood, and what it's like for parents to watch their children grow up. Seeing it, I realized that most current Hollywood films view childhood from a grown-up perspective. This is a film that views childhood from a child's perspective. What sets it apart from other family fare is its implied viewpoint. My Neighbor Totoro (in the film, the last word is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable, "TOE-tuh-roh") is a wonderful film.