Perfect Blue

This was quite frankly incredible and mesmerising. I am not a big fan of psychological thrillers, but if all of them were like Perfect Blue, I would be convinced to enjoy the genre. I remember reading ages ago that this film inspired Black Swan, but Black Swan does not, in my opinion, even touch the surface of the layers of complexity and horror of self that this film has. It literally left me speechless at times and I had to rewind scenes to understand them more fully (also will be rewatching at some point in the future). The way the scenes blend into one another until it is one giant, twisted mess, putting you in the mind of Mima, till you feel like you are going insane and confused just like she is,,, incredible. I have never felt more immersed in someone's mind before, and a character study that deals with themes of capitalist consumerism and its effects on real life people (or in this case animation people? idk, you get the point) through layered scenes and small, subtle hints and changes in the background really sells home the message this film portrays. As someone who grew up also consuming East Asian pop culture, the critique on fan obsession on idols (and even the term idol itself lends to the problematic nature of this relationship) and the entitlement many feel to the lives of those who are just doing their jobs being incredibly toxic, is showcased in a very understandable way. The same toxicity gets mimicked here beautifully, with the Mima's Room blog, the crazy stalker who feels entitled to Mima and her life and body to the point of control and murder as well as Rumi and her take over of Mima's idol persona and then later entitlement to end Mima's life due to her projecting herself onto Mima. All this leads to Mima questioning everything that is about herself, she exists in the minds of others in various versions and doesn't know the true her, only what the people around her want her to be which leads her spiralling into a depressive, dissociative descent. The scene where she battles Rumi! Mima and then eventually saves her and they both lie in a bloody heap on the road is such a catalyst of this internal battle she has. Stunningly depicted. I also enjoyed the exploration of ownership consumers feel to the bodies of artists. The scenes where Mima gets photographed in increasingly sexual poses with little clothing to eventually no clothing really drives the overtly voyeuristic role consumers play in consumption of media that has sexual elements to it. Layer that with obsession and mental health issues, you end up in stalker situations that lead to deadly consequences all in a fit to be that person who gets to touch or see the artist that way. Not to mention how that violence then extends to objectification of not only the artist but women in general. The experiences of women through the forced male gaze in media really done justice here. I don't know if any of the above made any sense, I am still reeling from this film. Definitely worth a watch but trigger warning on mental health and sexual assault. (Side note re sexual assault scenes: unlike Blue Velvet which I will always be a hater of, it does make sense in this film, there is a  reason why all those horrible sexual assault scenes happen (both the fake and the real one) but that does not omit the fact that I felt incredibly nauseas at them and had to take pauses and breaks. Half a star off for them on a moral stand point.)