Did not like it
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — All About Lily Chou-Chou
freddycd15 — 17 years ago(June 05, 2008 10:52 PM)
I was expecting something else when I saw the rating here, but this film had an unrealistic plot which was enmeshed in a non-linear narrative.
Firstly, I would like to say that this film would have been much better with a linear narrative, it was a film about life, broadly speaking. And as such, a linear narrative would have been, IMO, much more powerful. You would be able to witness and appriciate the changes in the characters' lives much better. A thriller or mystery film would have suited a non-linear narrative better since it adds to the storytelling, enchacing the mystery. The genre of this movie did not require such effects. I spent most of the time trying to piece things together rather than really reflect on events in the film. As such, I think that the non-linearity did not add anything beneficial to the film.
Secondly, the story was very unrealistic. Although I am not geared up to the statistics in Japan, I can say that the school must be one of the roughest I have seen. Do Japanese teenagers really think like that and act upon it? Again, because of the genre, being a slice of life, realism is crucial. I just cannot believe that real life characters would have acted in these ways. The rape, the unquestioned errands that Yuichi ran for everyone, the pimping and underage sex, the roberies commited, all in one place. For me, this really hindered the enjoyment of the film.
Finally, I think the film was too long, things could have been told, more effectively too, within a far shorter time, 2hrs max. There were far too many characters that the story tried to cater for when it should have focused more closely on just one. There were characters such as Tsuda which were not essential for the film but a sizable chunk of the film was spent on her "side-story". -
ingenue82 — 17 years ago(June 06, 2008 03:30 AM)
I respect your opinion, you are fully entitled with that. I myself have no problem with non-linearity in the film, it works well for me. My problem with this film is the Okinawa part which is too long and exhausting to watch. But I really disagree with this:
There were characters such as Tsuda which were not essential for the film but a sizable chunk of the film was spent on her "side-story".
Tsuda is my favourite character in Lily Chou Chou. Without her character, the film would lose a lot of it's beauty. No Tsuda means no flying kite scene. Also, to see the chemistry between Hasumi and Tsuda developed is so much heartwrenching.
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=25080181 -
Dessek — 17 years ago(June 06, 2008 08:26 AM)
Freddy's first two comments are a decent summary of my own criticism of the film, yet I still loved it despite these elements. I'd advise to watch it again; the whole thing becomes a lot more poignant and powerful once you already have some idea of what is happening and what will happen.
As for the third point of criticism, I flat-out disagree. Tsuda was my favourite character too.
"I'm weak, and useless, but I'll stay by your side. I'll protect you."
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tripitacha — 17 years ago(June 06, 2008 04:28 PM)
You have obviously never been bullied. There is no phenomena more misunderstood in life than the fear and submission of a bully victim. This film is more daringly real than anything I've ever seen from the West. I think this film is a brave and entirely realistic achievement.
Getting the bus saves time but it sure don't lengthen yr life! - Harvey Pekar -
freddycd15 — 17 years ago(June 06, 2008 05:17 PM)
I can assure you that I have been bullied, although far from the extent of the characters film. Which might be why I may not identify with their actions as much because I don't stand for bullying when it happens to me.
I did see that there were many tsuda fans on this board, and her story was good, but, for me anyway, it was not good with the whole film. I think if we had a tsuda film by itself, independent of the whole film, then it would have been more powerful. The fact that a side-story (I considered it a side-story) was the favourite scene of many viewer questions the coherance of the film and whether it lacked focus (which I think it did). -
ingenue82 — 17 years ago(June 08, 2008 02:04 AM)
How can you say Tsuda's story is only a side-story. Tsuda's story is not only her own story, it's also Hasumi's story, our "hero" in Lily Chou Chou. Through Tsuda, we can see the helplessness feeling that overwhelming Hasumi. Just watch the scene when Hasumi walked Tsuda home. Yes, I'm talking about the scene when Tsuda throw the money, and then spank Hasumi with her bag, then run into the ditch. Through this scene we can see even in silence how both of them (not only Tsuda) is deeply in pain. The pain that Tsuda feels for being used by Hoshino, and the pain that Hasumi feels for being hopelessly coward and powerless to help that poor girl.
So I really really disagree with your saying that Tsuda's part is not essential. Tsuda's story helps us to understand Hasumi's character.
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=25080181 -
qdogballer — 17 years ago(June 24, 2008 06:20 PM)
ingenue82 from seeing your profile your probably my fav blogger, beside myself. I agree that the Okinawa scene was too long and exhausting to see the transformation of Hoshino, As far as Tsuda, her story is essential to the overall lining of the story along with others, although Kuno is my fav character, Hasumi in second, Shunji Iwai could have subbed some of the Okinawa trip into furthering some other characters story lines. freddycd15 said there were too many characters in the film, but if you think about it a large number of them were under Hoshino's control literally . but this film is beautiful and has many Aesthetic scene's through out.
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ingenue82 — 17 years ago(June 25, 2008 05:21 AM)
:shakehand:
I'm glad that someone think the same with me
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=25080181 -
Nephilim-6 — 17 years ago(October 01, 2008 02:52 PM)
Bullying in Japan is a big problem. Things that happen in this movie do happen in Japan.
Nice little news item about the phenomena:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/11/061115_bullying.shtml
and another one:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6213716.stm
and another one:
http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/advwrf99/causeeffect/akikocause.html
okey enough lecturing for today
Did you ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really un-evolved? - Bill Hicks