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Perfect Blue
(1997),
Director: Satoshi Kon, Not rated (Dad's guess: R for
nudity, violence and rape)
The color of
illusion is Perfect Blue.
  Starring:
(the English dub voice talents of:) Ruby Marlowe, Wendee Lee,
Gil Starberry, Lia Sargent, Steve Bulen, James Lyon, Frank Buck
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
- great
"Nobody cares for you
anymore. You're tarnished and you're filthy." -
Mima's Ghost
Why watch this? It
is an unsettling mental journey through the entertainment
business.
Plot Summary:
A Japanese pop idol named Mima Kirigoe leaves her successful
J-pop group to pursue an acting career, taking on a
controversial role in a crime drama series. As she struggles to
transition her public image, she is relentlessly stalked by an
obsessive fan and an anonymous figure online who believes her
idol persona is still alive. Mima's grip on reality begins to
blur as she questions her own identity and sanity, leading to a
psychological crisis where she can no longer distinguish between
fantasy and real life.
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Dad's Preview:
There are anime films for children - this is not one of them.
The themes here are very mature and disturbing. There is a rape
scene that is hard to watch. I kept trying to tether myself to
reality. What part if Mima's life is a dream or a waking
hallucination, and what part is real? I felt confused,
disoriented, frustrated. I realized (later) that is the point.
She's in a whirlpool - lost, unsure of herself, being
manipulated. Just like me. However the film's point becomes very
clear upon reflection. The hyper-sexualization of actors and
entertainers (mostly women) has an impact on everyone involved.
These people are damaged by those churning the meat grinder -
and fame is the lure they utilize. |
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Madhouse; Rex
Entertainment |
