ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the symbol of the magic circle (mandala) as it appears in a number of contexts throughout the film, as well as the indeterminate state of the mysterious Marnie, who can be interpreted as either imaginary friend or ancestral spirit, or both, relative to Anna. Robinson so adroitly describes: things like parties and best friends and going to tea with people were fine for everyone else, because everyone else was “inside” – inside some sort of invisible magic circle. From a Jungian perspective one could explore the two protagonists Anna and Marnie as suggestive of a split-anima/shadow animus. Viewed as an imaginary friend lends itself to analysis using standard Jungian concepts such as typology, complex, archetype, shadow, anima, self, and individuation. The indeterminate space of understanding Marnie as either imaginary friend or ancestral spirit can thus be fruitfully considered from the perspectives.
