This film is a kind of maximalist take on grief and flat affect, a sort of candy-coated psychedelic journey from losing parents to forming a band about it. It's got a wildly cheery tone most of the time, but I definitely wouldn't say that this is a cheerful or feel-good film.
One of the kids feels like he's never experienced love and everyone wants him to die. One of them is being objectified by everyone in her life, from her own parents to her piano teacher, who kills her parents based on...something she wished for. Another is beat by his father, and neglected by his mother. And, all the time, these kids are reminding me of my own struggles with depression and trauma, people telling me how well things are going for me, all while inside me something massive, crushing, unspeakable and indescribable was happening to me, something I couldn't ever express.
Speaking of Ikuko, I should note that regular memory loss can be a symptom of depression. Judging by some of the photos seen at the end, I'd guess she chose to develop those photographs eventually.
Anyways, there's like, three fake out endings. In the real end, things just go on, with no dramatic resolution.
"Today, Mommy turned to dust. So did Daddy. Dusty as parmesan on a plate of bolognese. They were so alive. But they died and were turned to dust, carried by a breeze into the sky, until nothing remained of their physical existence."
alt. quote: "Emotions don't go out of style."
This film is a kind of maximalist take on grief and flat affect, a sort of candy-coated psychedelic journey from losing parents to forming a band about it. It's got a wildly cheery tone most of the time, but I definitely wouldn't say that this is a cheerful or feel-good film.
One of the kids feels like he's never experienced love and everyone wants him to die. One of them is being objectified by everyone in her life, from her own parents to her piano teacher, who kills her parents based on...something she wished for. Another is beat by his father, and neglected by his mother. And, all the time, these kids are reminding me of my own struggles with depression and trauma, people telling me how well things are going for me, all while inside me something massive, crushing, unspeakable and indescribable was happening to me, something I couldn't ever express.
Speaking of Ikuko, I should note that regular memory loss can be a symptom of depression. Judging by some of the photos seen at the end, I'd guess she chose to develop those photographs eventually.
Anyways, there's like, three fake out endings. In the real end, things just go on, with no dramatic resolution.
"Today, Mommy turned to dust. So did Daddy. Dusty as parmesan on a plate of bolognese. They were so alive. But they died and were turned to dust, carried by a breeze into the sky, until nothing remained of their physical existence."
alt. quote: "Emotions don't go out of style."
