On the Red Radiance of Perfect Blue

 

 

‘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.

 

 

 

 

‘Slackistan’ – Still in the face of Sanctions

 

 

 

‘Slackistan’ is an art film written and directed by Hammad khan, way back in 2010. It was at that time really popular and buzzy among the select few rich kids of Pakistan, but I wasn’t aware of it back then. I saw it a few weeks ago, and I liked it.

‘Slackistan’ is the burger equivalent to the drama, ‘Humsafar’, as the entire cast was full of people on their way to fame in either singing or acting. Many of them who I like and are extremely talented and one that I do not like. Hint he only has one scene. Anyway watching the movie almost ten years down the line, I found myself asking – Has it really been that long?

The movie follows several young graduates of Islamabad’s elite, or something along those lines. Our main narrator and character is Hassan. Who is really cute. As the movie goes on Hassan talks about his friends, his life and shares his thoughts on the country and what’s going on around him. There is no main plot and all of the characters are going through something, which made them feel real. This is a very real depiction of our teenagers, and how things were back then, and in a way still our for us.

It was filmed in a manner which is unique and innovative for Pakistani audiences, as our mainstream movies typically deal greatly in male and female driven heroic love stories, which have dance songs and extended shots of riches and well obviously come of as romantic and fantastical. You watch them and are transported into a fantasy place, but with ‘Slackistan’ you are in the place you want to get away with.

I guess because it was very different and verbally bold for our general audience it did not get a lot of attention, and it was actually banned. Many stated that it was not a family picture, as if that was a bad thing. But I am happy that they went against the classic desi block buster formula, and made a movie that has something to say, and keeps the tempo mellow and soft.

The shooting style could have been better, and the music was nice, again, it was very different and refreshing, but there weren’t many Urdu songs – just the one. By the end I did find myself identifying and feeling a connection for the characters, and I wanted to know what would happen to them.

Social commentary

Pakistani films, and the directors seem to be under this great pressure to address every social issue that society. Every movie, is under the pressure to satisfy and appeal to everyone, and it has to have everything or else why even make movies?

I think this pressure is prevalent because people feel like giving morals or something justice based will give the movie more respect or authority, but that is not true. You can’t mix everything into an hour. There is nothing wrong with addressing problems, but not at the cost of the characters or their development. Shoaib Mansoor’s films have that in them, the issue is stronger than the character, so the human connection is bleached. I still like them, but this is how I feel. The same can be said about some dramas.

‘Slackistan’, actually handled this very well, they showcased the issues through the main characters eyes, and for the others things they showed the characters were going through those issues. Their mild reactions to the things they are unable to control is natural and the real thing, it’s not like all of us our heroes. This way they were able to feel through a lot and mold the growth and change in the characters.

 

Social Decadence 

As a people we have been dealing with terrorism for many years, in result of which we have become desensitized to the sight and the extent of the violence around us. This was portrayed very well in the movie, for the most part the boys and girls don’t know what to do, and have internalized a lot, as everything is falling a part.

As a part of dealing with the trauma or shock of everything that is going on around them, they do what all of us do, they ignore it. As a defense mechanism we ignored a lot and maneuvered our way into existence, we live in denial, then some terror attack happens, we get scared for a while, but then we get over it. I don’t any other country in the world has gone through the kind of terrorism that we have.

It was a very honest show of how Pakistani people deal with things falling a part, which Western films and media has always denied us. I feel like anyone to watched that trashy show, ‘Homeland’ should also watch ‘Slackistan’, just so they can see what Islamabad actually looks like. It actually is a good movie for Western audiences, it has tropes that they might like.

Sanctions and Censorship 

As mentioned ‘Slackistan’ like most of our movies was banned as soon as it was released on the big screen. This only happens to movies that actually have something to say, and want people to form an opinion, since they never ban any Bollywood movies. On the bright and ironic side, the act of banning them, actually makes the movies more popular. You think they would have learned that.

It was banned for having profane language, and for it not being child friendly.

I would just like to say that there should be public respect for artistic freedom for our own artists and writers. Hollywood, Bollywood and Turkish media gets away with too much, it is an insult that our own are not even allowed to get their foot through the door.  Just because they made one person angry.

Pakistani people have a right, weither they like it or not to a variety of media and opinions, they deserve to have information that makes them think and reflect. Not every movie is just there to entertain or become the voice of justice. Some movies are there for the sake of culture,art and to show you how different people exist. And there needs to be a surplus of films, dramas, reports, vlogs and documentaries for the sake of maintenance.

Besides that, we cannot have our cake and eat it too. If we are tired about all the wrong and negative media or representation we get from the Western world, then we have to make our own media and drown out the falseness. We need to speak for ourselves, and this one of the ways that we can, and we must be a part of the conversation.

 

In conclusion, this is an art film which will become more popular and nostalgic with time, and we will look back at it and say, I can’t believe times used to be that bad.

 

 

 

Quotes by Andy Warhol that should be on a T-shirt

 

Andy Warhol with a fancy camera

Andy Warhol was, and is perhaps the most famous artist of the Pop art movement . Who is remembered not only for his art but for his personality and style which many have said were his greatest work of art .

He was an enigmatic man, who rose from poverty with hard work and resilience, made his dream come true somewhere between the studios and underground tunnels of the big apple .

A self-made man who turned himself into a brand ,became a critic of pop culture , made films, worked  on all sorts of material and wrote several books . And like all men who have led a full double life , full of sadness and wealth, transformation and tragedy , he had a lot of fascinating things to say .

I personally consider him the top diva of his time , who had this philosophy about the materialistic world , people , art and culture . Ideas  that make you think twice, but many times he had a humorous side to himself and gave us iconic and sassy lines that should be on a T-shirt .Because that seems to be so popular at the moment.

• “I never fall apart, because I never fall together.” 

Imagine walking through the streets with something unique as this clever paradox instead of some capital city name or a year , like 1867. Go with this statement instead and prove that you are an artist .

 

• “I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want.” 

This could be your activism T-shirt , for whenever you want to stand up for the environment and make a statement .

 

“Being born is like being kidnapped. And then sold into slavery.” 

The perfect shirt for your first day of school, work , or a first date . If nothing else at least you’ll be able to make a t-shirt reference while discussing your existential crisis .

 

“I like boring things.” 

Simple and chic . Maybe you could wear this to a family reunion to let them know how much you care and how much fun they are.

 

 

I’ve never met a person I couldn’t call a beauty.

 

Here would be something that should be written everywhere so people could cherish themselves for their uniqueness and feel good about themselves. You could be out with this on and maybe , just maybe , brighten up someone’s day.

 

 

 

Why do people think artists are special? It’s just another job.

 

I am pretty sure all artists,writers,singers,dancers basically anyone on the dark-side would want to have this shirt forever. They would probably carry this shirt around even when not wearing it . And if you are from a conservative background , and are studying the arts – you can wear this and at least make your relatives feel like you have a job.

 

 

Sex is nostalgia for sex.

You don’t get more simple and swift about human nature than this . Well , unless you’re Oscar Wilde.

 

“In 15 minutes, everybody will be famous.” 

So everyone knows that once Andy Warhol coined the term fifteen minutes of fame, but what it left out is that almost ten years after he  said so he said this in an interview .This would  be on every fans buying list.

 

“I wake up every morning. I open my eyes and think: here we go again.” 

I am guessing this would be the top choice for a Monday  at work.

 

 

“Two people kissing always look like fish.”

 

This is as blunt and honest as any shirt could be , be sure to wear this around annoying couples or on weddings. It kind of sounds like something out of a modern romantic comedy , or a YA novel. You know the really cheesy ones that have these ordinary characters doing nothing special , feeling nothing special . But you just have to take everything they say as special .

The only one truly special in Andy Warhol. End of story.