But I instantly fell in love with the film regardless.
But not having seen some of his darker (or mature) films he's done in between Love Letter and Lily Chou-Chou, it was shocking to say the least. So I was aware of his name when I was introduced to this particular film. I love this film, probably favorite Iwai film.įor whatever reason, one of his previous film Love Letter was huge hit back in the day in the country I grew up.
The story goes all over the place and feels fitting for the film's habitat since it feels like one giant series of vignettes being presented as memories than building up to a climax, which is why some people were not digging into the movie as a whole.Ī beautifully arranged melancholic and ethereal work of brilliance of the pain of the teenage years is probably the best way I could sum up this.
The way the camera moved and the music choices felt like Shunji Iwai was obviously channeling Wong Kar-wai and Terrence Malick but when I thought about the movie as a whole more, the more the music and cinematography was appropriately used to fully craft a sprawling take on one's teenage years and the society around them. The anonymous message boards that were occasionally used in a black screen wasn't something I was into at first, but I realized that it was a useful way for Yūichi to communicate his feelings and thoughts (as well as the music he shoplifts and listens to). There's a lot of emotion that is stuffed into this and it does work to make me feel immersed into the scene while making me feel drained. whether that experience is a good or a bad one depends on you.It was only a recent time ago when I first watched All About Lily Chou-Chou (roughly a month ago to be exact), but the more I thought about it, the more it started to grow on me and this time it left a more emotionally melancholy impact on me. I will say this, that "Lily Chou-Chou" is an unforgettable experience. So, I give this film 2 stars, knowing that there are others who would give this film 5 stars in a heartbeat, and I wouldn't really argue with them.those people simply watch movies for different reasons than I do. It's not really a film that wants to be liked. Shunji Iwai wasn't thinking about critics when he made this film, so to criticize it would be somewhat pointless.īut, since I must, I will definitely say that this is the type of film that about 3% of the population will absolutely love with every inch of their souls, while 97% of people will absolutely hate.Īt 2 hours and 45 minutes, this film is a long, depressing, dreary, disturbing, brave, draining, frustrating, largely boring but at times though-provoking, artistic, and undeniably an original experience with a notably good soundtrack.ĭid I like this film? Not at all actually. Rating these types of movies is so difficult, since it is quite obvious that movies like this are intentionally made to counter-act what we traditionally think of as good movies. If only once, this is one to consider watching. Takao Osawa also shows up with a funny character.All About Lily Chou-Chou may only be the best film to some, but it is one of those movies that sticks with nearly every other viewer for a good amount of time. Shugo Oshinari, Aoi Yu, and Ayumi Ito stand out the most. The rest of the supporting cast is also good.
The cyber texting element that Iwai employs consistently throughout the picture is also a creative element worthy of note.Hayato Ichihara's character is a bit bland, but he works well with what he has. For the most part, the camerawork is great. The first hour and the last 30 minutes are the better parts, while the middle tends to drag.With that said, Shunji Iwai's directing makes this worth watching. The story can be tough to get into and the run time is just under 2 and a half hours. It shows how music can be a place for people to seek sanctuary from their everyday lives. Shunji Iwai's All About Lily Chou-Chou is one of those films that stands out on its own.The story is quite unique and so is the writing, but this film is not for everybody.