By Afroditi A. Karagianni,
Perfect blue
For those who love anime movies or appreciate a good, animated film, Perfect blue is a piece not to be missed. Directed in 1997 by Satoshi Kon, the film focuses on the life of Mima, a rising female pop star. As her fame increases, Mima is encouraged by her managers to take up a role on a popular TV show and get more involved with acting. As the story unfolds, she gets increasingly concerned when multiple business associates of hers turn up murdered and decides to investigate in order to figure out who the culprit is. This frantic chase, though, takes her to places she could never imagine and reveals some shocking and twisted truths.
As I mentioned before, the animators have done an amazing job with the design of the characters, sceneries, and city where the story is set. The main color, as one can tell from the title, is blue. This visual choice is brilliant, since this frosty, cold shade of blue matches the tone of the film to a T. The scenario and dialogues are truly outstandingly done, whereas the film’s gifted director manages to shock, appall, move, and keep viewers on the edge of their seats with his unrivaled camera work and swift, agile frame changes.
Perfect blue was a sensation. In truth, it is one of those pieces that kept me wondering and trying to solve the case the whole time. It is filled with the kind of action, plot, twists and shocking reveals that are hard to find. Moreover, it handles topics such as fame, anxiety, obsession, self-expression, identity, and loneliness in remarkable and unique ways. However, it is not to be considered a light watch. As it contains violent scenes, abusive, manic characters, and blood Perfect blue is not for the faint-hearted. If you are up to be challenged, though, consider this your next watch.
Coherence
This pick is for those who appreciate a nicely done, yet low budget, film that mostly takes place in the same space. Directed by James Ward Byrkit, 2013’s Coherence promises to rearrange its viewers’ brains. On the night of an astronomical anomaly, eight friends meet at a dinner party and experience a vast array of reality bending events, which confuse, intrigue, infuriate, and even enlighten them. Secrets are revealed, fights break out, confessions are made, and no one can be truly certain as to how the night will end.
The film is almost completely shot in the dining room where the party takes place, with only a handful of scenes shot outside. Personally, I find this creative choice excellent, since it plays a vital role in the setting of the tone of the movie. In addition, it creates the perfect atmosphere, in which the characters have an underlying feeling that despite the normalcy of the dinner setting, something is about to go wrong, which increases both their and the audience’s anxiety. The colors are bright and vibrant, with yellow, orange, brown, and red being present in most shots. They create a homey, warm environment at first, and, over time, come in visible contrast with the anxiety-filled story and its uneasy, earie premise. The cast is phenomenal, and the script is, to me, a revelation. It is full of witty dialogue, interesting plots, and naturally scripted reactions when, at the same time, it manages to do something many scripts cannot: make each character stay true to themselves and distinguish them and their reactions from the rest of the group.
Coherence was a blast. Physics, astronomy, and science lovers are definitely going to be impressed, or at least entertained. With its mysterious, cryptic atmosphere, it compels those who watch to try and understand it, and even explain what is happening and why. It messes with your brain, but you absolutely forgive it for it. The ending has been characterized as controversial by many, but I strongly feel that it is worth a watch, especially for its first half. Watch this film, and you are promised to attend the most baffling, interesting, and action-filled dinner party of your life.
Certainly, blockbusters and more commercial movies have, according to many, a certain appeal. Nonetheless, I strongly believe that many less known, yet exquisite films have their own special place in cinema and deserve to experience being in the limelight for what they- so generously -offer. On that note, watching a good film that is yet not so popular will immensely benefit its cast, crew, and writers, but mostly the audience. It will make us appreciate cinema and discover interesting stories, people, and places while transforming us into deeper, more critical thinkers.
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