Review:
The story starts off with Genya Tachibana, a documentary filmmaker who has travelled to an infamous actress (Chiyoko Fujiwara) who disappeared
from the sliver screen 30 years ago, for an interview. There he presents her with a key that seems to have a great attachment to Chiyoko's
life and memories since her childhood.
Through this anime we see Chiyoko in movies she starred in only to be searching for one thing, which the key reminds her constantly, her first love
the painter she had helped escape from government authorities as a child.
Final Comments:
When this movie started I thought that it wasn't going to surpass Perfect Blue, the beginning was slow at first until Genya and his assistant
began interviewing Chiyoko. What I found so interesting was how the flashbacks of Chiyoko's life was handled, Genya and
assistant were both transported
into her flashbacks as if they were really on a film set, and at times they were.
Also Chiyoko's films are somewhat related to her, as she tries in desperation to find what she lost as a child and I felt for her, every step of
the way until I was crying at the very end.
The seiyuus of Chiyoko as a child (Fumiko Orikasa), woman (Mami Koyama) and older woman (Miyoko Shôji) were all
outstanding and the quality just sucks you deeper into her life and her pain.
At times I was confused, not being completely sure if one flashback was either a film she starred in or an actual flashback of her life.
However that paned out very well.
Instead of feeling sad all the way through this absorbing anime, Genya and his
assistant added to this anime well, initiating light humour at certain points
which were quite hilarious.
What I admire about this film is that Chiyoko never gave up her search, she kept looking and hoping that one day she would find her first love.
Recommend it?: No doubt in my mind, this I recommend!
