# Perfect Blue (1997/I)

### reviewed by
Chen Chiou Beng

    A Review by Chen Chiou Beng:

    Title: Perfect Blue
    Country: Japan
    Length: 081 minutes
    Year: 1997
    Director: Satoshi Kon
    Cast: Nil (Animation)
    Rating (Singapore): R(A), Contains nudity, rape sequence, violence and gore.
    Shown on 25th April 1999 in the Singapore International Film Festival.

Mima is a singer in a popular pop idol group. Then one day, she decides to forgo her singing career for a serious acting. But alas, she got only a minor role to contend to, and so, to further her career, she chose to strip and even appear in a rape sequence in the film. But things are not going fine for her. First, she received threats. Then, she found a fan page dedicated to her is actually reporting on her every move. Next a mysterious figure, claiming to be the real her, started appearing everywhere and talking to her. And she started developing memory lapses, forgetting what she has done in those hours. And finally people are getting murdered around her in the most gruesome way possible during her lapses. But who is the killer? Is it the mysterious security guard that is stalking her? Or is it her friends? Or could it be Mima herself? But is she capable of murder? Forewarned, the anime is not for the squeamish. For though Perfect Blue runs at only 81 minutes, it contains enough nudity and violence for a longer film, and the murders occurred is at its most violent. But Perfect Blue may be, in my opinion, the best Japanese animation in this years Singapore International Film Festival. It does not delve in the usual science fiction that Japanese anime normally deals in. It deals, however, with the dark reality of film-makings. Also, Perfect Blue is also a murder mystery. Everything you see in the film may or may not be reality. As for the ending, I would spoil it for you. See for yourself and be amazed.

    Rated:**** /5

    Ratings:
    *-Forget it.
    **-Wait for the video release.
    ***-OK
    ****-Prepared to be blown away
    *****-A Classic piece.

    Written on April 25th 1999.

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