‘Perfect Blue’, is a 1997 psycholgical-thriller, horror,anime film directed by Satoshi Kon. His best and most mesmerizing work, ‘Perfect Blue’ is a movie unlike any other that plays with the viewer’s senses of reality, leaving them undone and shaking. And to think this was his attempt at animation.
The movie starts of on both a slow and up-beat mood, as our protagonist Mima Kirigoe, as she makes her last appearance as a pop idol, as she will soon be making the jump to becoming an actress. From there forward the movie takes a turn so subtle but so striking that one wants to stay till the end, but having done so, might not want to watch it again, only to be pulled in back by the brilliance of the story.
The story and movie if full of layers, so everyone seems to have their own theory and idea about it, but overall everyone agrees that the movie is about losing one’s grip of reality, being overtaken by the public’s opinion, pop culture and it’s effect on humanity, the male gaze and the lines between fact and fiction.
Mima seems to struggle with shifting her career, as many people around her are not happy with her decision, and that displeasure or discord manifests itself in the form of an illusion that taunts and scares Mima. Mima is divided both internally and externally as the the new Mima and the old Mima, and those who prefer the new Mima are being murdered. Mima herself is unsure is unsure of it all, and her distress is not verbally expressed but manifested in the art around her, or how she is framed. She is silent and shy for the most part and allows others to speak for her and about her, as no one really consults her, which is reflective of how icons have no control over their image. The pressure is causing her to loose grip of time and reality which is what the movie focuses on, but the truth is that Mima is not the only one at a loss of sanity. She is but one in the spectrum of society that is unable to fight a concept.
What’s unique about this movie is that the use and involvement of visuals and sounds, it it something that needs to be experienced and not just watched. It is something that plays with your mind, and like Mima, those watching do not know what to believe and for the most part are afraid and cornered. The color red is a great aid, as it is synonymous with the dissent to the the unknown. The camera movements also create the feeling of uneasiness, and the soundtrack generally is enjoyable and energetic, but the silence is the unnerving catalyst.
I suppose it is a look into the trauma and abuse the female form encounters in a male dominated business and audience, where the wills of the audience and executives is what one has to follow and please. Mima’s pop-idol fans who are mostly men are unhappy that she is leaving, and talk a lot about how she has lost her innocence by becoming an actress, but the directors and writers want to completely change her image, something more sexual is what they want- so she is caught between two male ideals and fantasies and is uneasy about it. By attacking the male gaze, the movie does leave a a mark, and it’s rather interesting that the eyes are almost invisible.
Mima goes through violence, objectification in a wide variety in the movie, which is interesting because in most horror films girls are just body counts and the audience is made to be uncaring of their deaths, and the villain becomes the hero, but Mima is full of humanity, and like the villain in her life, the audience is allowed to live through her and lose track of her humanity. Mima for the most part is fighting to gain back her self from the persona that has been trying to crush and serve other eyes with her as a vessel.
But more than the subject ‘Perfect Blue’ is a criticism on the then decadent culture of pop culture, and in the bigger picture on the concept of celebrity. We see that first hand that everyone wants Mima to be what they want her to be, it’s as if they belive they own her, having no shame in what they do to protect that image. She is essentially like a brand and religion, and it only causes her to suffer, and that is the moral horror of the film, that it is all too real.
How many celebrities and politicians are out there selling themselves, only for the masses to wait as the truth comes out after they die, like President Kennedy wasn’t a family man after all. But specifically on Mima , it is prevalent that people are unafraid of hurting her or moving in on her space and sanity, which is not unusual in all of our celebrities and stars. The fact that Saba Qamar got death threats for acting as Qandeel Balouch for an otherwise good and decent drama.
I think that is interesting that we generally defend nudity or provocative actions for our females icons, as a sense of freedom of speech or expression, or that it is a part of their job and that we should just accept it, but ‘Perfect Blue’ clearly shows how these starlets don’t have control over their image, they have managers for that. They all could be essentially being manufactured into an image just to cause shock value. So maybe we should look closer and see how genuine these actions are, and if these women actually enjoy any of it. Even Mima pretends to be okay with the change but we see how she truly feels.
I would like to conclude that, ‘Perfect Blue’ is a masterpiece that will stand the test of time, and it should be respected as a work of part. It is also not appropriate for Desi audiences at least not at this point, so I would prefer them to read articles on it, or watch video essays on it.
Maheen's Muse 