Think one or more of my flatmates may be scared of the dark. It's the only plausible explanation for both landing lights to still be on when everyone appears to have gone to bed.
Sunday 19 February 2012
Raindance
Saw a rather interesting film called Synchronicity (シンクロニシティ) back in October. It was part of the Raindance film festival, an annual independent film festival based in London. Had to get up rather early on a Sunday morning and the cinema wasn't exactly packed.
It was a rather unusual film. Although quite a lot happened plot-wise in the short 80 minute running time, it felt very reflective and almost dream-like. The film opens with the lead actress, Miyamoto Issui (宮本一粋), sensuously kissing a model head, before following the two young leads with a hand-held camera as they run through a park. Two extremely contrasting scenes. I was left completely disorientated by the time the first ten minutes was over.
Basically, the film is about two young people living in Tokyo. Although they sleep together, they're not a couple. Stuck on the cusp of adulthood, with no great desire or motivation to move forwards. Directionless. Sure most twenty-somethings of the current generation will probably relate. We're pretty comfortable in our lives. Living a prolonged adolescence with our parents acting as a safety net whilst we decide whether to further our education or work dead-end jobs to kill time before we find 'a purpose' for our lives. Not that it'll be any different from those who went before us, I'm sure. It's unlikely we'll be married with kids by the time we're thirty though.
Quite a lot does happen in the film. The trials of the young female character snap the young male character out of his stupor to come to her aid, well ... in a fashion. However, it was the overarching themes of the film that stuck with me. Maybe it's due to the fact that those are the feelings that I can relate to. Feel pretty directionless myself after all. My twenty-seventh birthday is fast approaching.
The performance by Miyamoto Issui really struck me. Although I couldn't really find that much information about the film (gather it was a first-time director and would imagine the actors weren't overly experienced either ... guess we'll not be seeing a UK release anytime, not even sure how extensive the Japanese release was), I did discover that she was formally in a band called Nichika (二千花, meaning two thousand flowers) between 2006 and 2009. Managed to get hold of a copy of their album. It's pretty good. Nothing too challenging could perhaps be a fair criticism, ... but still. Really like this video for the song New Water (あたらしい水):
It was a rather unusual film. Although quite a lot happened plot-wise in the short 80 minute running time, it felt very reflective and almost dream-like. The film opens with the lead actress, Miyamoto Issui (宮本一粋), sensuously kissing a model head, before following the two young leads with a hand-held camera as they run through a park. Two extremely contrasting scenes. I was left completely disorientated by the time the first ten minutes was over.
Basically, the film is about two young people living in Tokyo. Although they sleep together, they're not a couple. Stuck on the cusp of adulthood, with no great desire or motivation to move forwards. Directionless. Sure most twenty-somethings of the current generation will probably relate. We're pretty comfortable in our lives. Living a prolonged adolescence with our parents acting as a safety net whilst we decide whether to further our education or work dead-end jobs to kill time before we find 'a purpose' for our lives. Not that it'll be any different from those who went before us, I'm sure. It's unlikely we'll be married with kids by the time we're thirty though.
Quite a lot does happen in the film. The trials of the young female character snap the young male character out of his stupor to come to her aid, well ... in a fashion. However, it was the overarching themes of the film that stuck with me. Maybe it's due to the fact that those are the feelings that I can relate to. Feel pretty directionless myself after all. My twenty-seventh birthday is fast approaching.
The performance by Miyamoto Issui really struck me. Although I couldn't really find that much information about the film (gather it was a first-time director and would imagine the actors weren't overly experienced either ... guess we'll not be seeing a UK release anytime, not even sure how extensive the Japanese release was), I did discover that she was formally in a band called Nichika (二千花, meaning two thousand flowers) between 2006 and 2009. Managed to get hold of a copy of their album. It's pretty good. Nothing too challenging could perhaps be a fair criticism, ... but still. Really like this video for the song New Water (あたらしい水):
New Year
Okay, figured I should start writing something on this blog again. It's now 2012. Well, it's nearly the end of February actually ... so 2012 has represented the present state for the best part of two months now. Seen as the world is going to end imminently, I may as well find some way to waste my time on a Sunday evening.
In any case, thought I'd start by writing about some of the more interesting things I came across towards the end of last year.
In any case, thought I'd start by writing about some of the more interesting things I came across towards the end of last year.
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