Perfect Blue

Not the first and not the last to explore divided aspects of the self into literal avatars, but it does provide a very interesting framing mechanism. Lynch's extensive work in this area frames this self as separate, and often in different versions of reality, but Satoshi Kon leverages his characters' different selves in direct conflict with each other. Instead of separating different parts of the self, he separates entire versions of the self. The whole film is, quite clearly, a metaphor for identity conflict. But where this gets actually interesting is through the necessary detail that Rumi is never really fighting with herself at all - only an image of herself, one that stems from an entirely external source. This source can never know her as well as she knows herself, despite its claims, because it isn't her. But for much of the film, this doesn't seem to matter. She falls apart, torn completely away from reality as she struggles with the all-consuming (for all of us, I think) question of who she is. But with Satoshi Kon's emphatic focus on a more traditional external antagonist as the root of this conflict, a more interesting thesis presents itself. Difficulty with the answer to questions of identity are not rooted innately within the self, but rather lie in the outside world. The conflicts arise not from a vague, unknowable internal force, but through the pressures and expectations of the outside world. Whether you are always aware of it or not, we are constantly ruled by our fears about the perception of others. We live our lives a certain way because certain people think certain things, whether they or you are always conscious of it or not. This is framed through an actor-popstar lens that works because it is an obvious, extreme version of this phenomenon, but it's not innately rooted in this state. This is universal, and hyperbolic presentation is just that - hyperbole. This conflict is a natural part of the human condition, and I don't think you can ever completely free yourself from it. But we do have the ability to (mostly) choose our own destiny, so don't let yourself be ruled by someone else.