Shiki-Jitsu (2000)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 128 minuten
Alternative titles: Ritual / 式日
Country:
Japan
Directed by: Hideaki Anno
Stars: Shunji Iwai, Ayako Fujitani and Jun Murakami
IMDb score:
7,5 (3.288)
Releasedate: 7 December 2000
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Shiki-Jitsu plot
A disillusioned filmmaker meets a young girl who has the same ritual every day. Every day she assumes that tomorrow is her birthday. He tries to communicate with her through his video camera.
Reviews & comments
wibro
-
- 11590 messages
- 4098 votes
For me, this film, which I reviewed again this morning, is mainly based on the very strong first 1½ hours. Beautiful visuals, beautiful piano music and, above all, wonderfully mysterious. I was very fascinated by the bizarre surreal world in which the young girl lived. The scene in which she gave Iwai a tour of the seven floors of the apartment in which she lived while running, accompanied by the beautiful piano music of Takashi Kako, is especially worth remembering. And so this part of the film had more of these kinds of beautiful scenes, everything to give this film the highest rating from me, but unfortunately the last half hour threw a spanner in the works. As more was revealed about the how and why of the mysterious young woman's abnormal behavior, my interest waned. The last ten minutes - the meeting with her mother - where everything was explained in detail was a complete letdown for me. Reminded me a lot of a Hollywood drama where everything has to be explained as necessary. Very sorry. For me, this whole movie should have just remained mysterious. The fact that this film still receives a high rating from me is therefore also due to the excellent first 1½ hours and, among other things, the beautiful soundtrack by Takashi Kako.
4.0* after revision
Translated from Dutch · View original
Onderhond
-
- 87623 messages
- 12890 votes
Exceptional.
I don't have a much better description for it. A film that manages to combine strong but very direct drama with a beautiful audiovisual experience without becoming too abstract, I cannot immediately name a similar film.
Anno is a master behind his camera, Fujitani and Iwai solve it in front of the camera. Of course, it also helps that Fujitani is the author of the book on which this film is based, and that the book is about her own experiences. It just makes her character even more interesting. Iwai is a strong opponent, they are both undoubtedly one of the strongest film couples ever.
It's a shame that Anno never developed this style further, I think it still has enormous potential.
5.0* and of course a extensive review
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
-
- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Yet another intriguing Japanese film that I would like to sit down and watch. An unusual encounter between a disillusioned girl wandering around an industrial city and a somewhat boring filmmaker with little backbone. These characters were deliberately chosen so that the focus could be on those minute actions and behaviors. No extremes here, just poetic melancholy.
Visually also very beautiful, where the gray environment becomes a plus. Fascinating how they walk on the roofs between cables and pipes. Also how the railway lines are transformed into fascinating attractions. Excellent camera work supported by soft piano music.
The film has something mysterious and dramatic about it, the inscrutable girl, the somewhat clumsy boy. The film feels languid, but has more to offer. Not always all over the place for me, but enough to consider a rewatch.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Trending Movies
Corporate & Media
Realtimes Network
Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31(315)-764002
