Due to a request made by YUI-LOVER member fullyinsane on the "Random Chat" Thread in the Topic "How did you come up with your username?" (started by YUI-LOVER member Itachi), I have decided to make this topic thread about one of my favorite films of all-time: Iwai Shunji's 2001 masterpiece, "All About Lily Chou Chou".



Before I continue any further about the film itself, let me start with...

I originally posted how I came up with my username on my "Member Intro" back when I joined the YUI-LOVER forum last Janurary, and I reposted the same explanation about the history of my username ("blue cat") on the first page of Itachi's topic thread (mentioned above), BUT to save time, let me repost it yet again. :D

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Meaning behind "blue cat":

The name "blue cat" comes from one of my favorite films of all-time: a Japanese film made in 2001 called "All About Lily Chou Chou". Do any of you know of it? It's a great movie. The film basically centers around a young junior high school student named Yuichi (played by actor Ichihara Hayato) who is obsessed over pop singer Lily Chou Chou, and he creates a BBS forum community where fans of Lily can talk about everything Lily-related. So in a sense, what I (and all of us) are doing by writing about YUI and/or our other favorite musicians is the same thing that is being done in the film!! :)

And "blue cat" is one of the main contributors to the forum; he/she (I don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't seen the film) plays a big part in the film (and again, I won't give anything away). But overall, beneath the film's haunting but incredibly beautiful imagery (which BTW, "All About Lily Chou Chou" is the first Japanese film to ever be shot completely in digital), the film is ultimately a character study and a socio-economic analysis on the problems of the Japanese public education system. Pretty deep stuff. :D

But you see, the film also relates to YUI. I think whomever directed and/or produced the "Tomorrow's Way" PV was inspired by "All About Lily Chou Chou" BTW, its Japanese title is "Riri shushu no Subete". In the film, the main character Yuichi is often seen listening to his CD Player in a desolate rice field; he is a very introverted kid but the power of music is what heals him and aids him in his struggling daily life. AND, this is exactly what the kid in the "Tomorrow's Way" PV is doing: listening to music by himself in a rice field!!!

So regardless, I'm glad that one of my favorite singers (YUI) and one of my all-time favorite movies ("All About Lily Chou Chou") are somehow related to one another!! :thumbsup:
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"All About Lily Chou Chou" Plot: This is the plot summary of the film from IMDB.com:

Life isn't easy for a group of high school kids growing up absurd in Japan's pervasive pop/cyber culture. As they negotiate teen badlands- school bullies, parents from another planet, lurid snapshots of sex and death- these everyday rebels without a cause seek sanctuary, even salvation, through pop star savior Lily Chou-Chou, embracing her sad, dreamy songs and sharing their fears and secrets in Lilyholic chat rooms. Immersed in the speed of everyday troubles, their lives inevitably climax in a fatal collision between real and virtual identities, a final logging-off from innocence.

blue cat's note: Keep in mind, this film is NOT for everyone. I wish everyone could (and would) watch it, but not everyone will. The film is a drama, but NOT the kind of Japanese drama many might assume it to be just cuz they hear it's a drama film made in Japan. It is not the kind of drama like Japanese drama films, "Ima, ai ni yukimasu" or "Crying Out Love, In The Center Of The World", nor like the Japanese drama TV series, "Ichi Rittoru no Namida"). Simply put, this film is NOT a tear-jerker. "All About Lily Chou Chou" is a disturbing yet bittersweet dark dramatic film.

To me, the film is simply beautiful and I never get tired of watching it. It's almost like watching a really long music video, expect of course with a lot more depth and meaning (than your average MV). To many others (friends, acquaintances, professors, amateur filmmakers), they don't like the film either cuz of (1) the subject matter the film deals with, and/or (2) cuz the film is slow and incoherent. If you're the kind of person that can't stand watching movies that are really slow-paced, then it'll probably take a lifetime for you to finish this film.

But if you are willing to look past the fact that the film is a bit slow (and that it's a pretty long film; running at approx 2.5 hours), then you'll be able to fully understand and appreciate the fact that it's not so much that the film is blatantly slow, but rather the film takes its time to draw out the characters' emotions and fully develop these naiive yet sympathetic characters.

There are many reasons why I love this film so much but the main reason is cuz there are so many events that take place in the film that have occured in my own life. I can relate to the film's story and ensemble cast of characters on so many different levels. I often feel as if the director, Iwai Shunji, made this film for me!! Of course, I know he didn't but that's how I basically feel. :D



More information on the film:

-IMDB.com - "Riri Shushu no Subete" (2001)
-Wikipedia (US) - "All About Lily Chou Chou"
-FILMPHILIA Review
-KFCC Review

In closing: I'd talk on and on about this film, but I won't... yet. :lol: I'd like to open it up to discussion (to those who have seen this film and/or are interested in seeing this film). :)

I am intrested in seeing the film!! So...will you tell me where I may be able to download it?? If not... Well I read the Wikipedia about it...

It seems quite interesting. But there is so much it is NOT saying...

(coughs) I think I'm going to draw someone listening to music in a ricefield... just a random person... when i finish is it okay if I scan it here or something XD'''

aah i stubled across this movie and looked for it far and wide T_T unfortunately ive never been able to find it and download it!! do you know where to find it because i'd love to watch it! hehe

Hmmm.... I don't know where you can download it (esp. since the movie was released back in 2001). But, since I know Panukeku is from Canada and zuttodayo is from California, then I'm sure the movie is available at your local video store (like Blockbuster Video), in the FOREIGN movies section. OR, you can find it on NETFLIX.

Hope that helps. :)

Sure!! That would be awesome!! I look forward to seeing your drawing!! :biggrin :thumbsup: