Memories of Matsuko [Blu-ray] [2006]

Is memories Of Matsuko Japan's answer to Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie? Yes, to some extent it is. There were certain parts of the film, particularly in the beginning, that were quite easy to see where these comparisons had originated from but as the story develops you soon realize that this isn't going to have the same schmaltzy ending that leaves the viewer feeling uplifted. On the contrary, the overall feeling coursing through my whole being when the credits rolled was akin to a swift kick in the nutts. Even odder was the overwhelming feeling that I'd just witnessed something rather extraordinary; considering I don't usually like this type of flick.

Tetsuya Nakashima has directed an absolute cracker with this drama/musical/comedy following the tragic life of Matsuko Kawajiri (a gut wrenching performance from Miki Nakatari). Don't let the word musical put you off purchasing as it's not a musical per se; the prison segment, for instance, plays out like an urban hit on MTV and on other occasions when the "I feel a song coming on" begins to rear its ugly head, it's mainly just a short kitschy interlude devised as a vehicle for the story to unravel: none of the numbers are camp or cringe worthy in any way, shape or form.

I watch a lot of violent flicks and find myself desensitized to the images being projected, but; when your watching scenes filled with romance and singing where the hue in the cinematography has been heavily saturated to make everything appear illuminated and then unexpected acts of savage violence erupt; it tends to have more of an impact, simply because your not expecting the mood to change so drastically: some scenes with this brutal nature will temporarily scar most viewers emotionally when watching Matsuko's relentlessly doomed love life unfurl.

As a child Matsuko was emotionally starved of affection from her father because all of his attention was focused on his sick child, Matsuko's sister Kumi. In her adult years, Matsuko remains so eager to please everyone that she's willing to accept any form of abuse by reasoning with herself: "if he hits me, it's better than being alone". We learn at the beginning of the story that Matsuko's body was found beaten to death in a park and her nephew, Sho (Eita), has been sent to her apartment to clearout her belongings. This commences a series of flashbacks as Sho and the viewer watch the tragic events that plagued the life of a beautiful dreamer.

The verdict: A 10/10 emotional roller coaster with masterpiece stamped all over it.

The movie itself is simply great. Just have a look at the other reviews.
But be aware that the dvd has some issues for widescreen users because the movie itself ist widescreen but the hardcoded subtitles are offscreen. So if you want to see the subtitles (and the movie in the right aspect ratio) you have to watch it in 4:3 which is _really_ annoying!

The film focuses on a homeless woman, dripping with OCD, collecting rubbish around her as imbued with depression she cannot climb out of her wasted vision. Described by her brother as inhabiting a meaningless life, following her death, she has her effects cleared out by her nephew. We are then led onto a murder mystery which loses itself as something more startling appears. It is a painstaking creation of a woman who has ended up in a mess because of family pride, misunderstandings, bad attachment relationships and violence. The film begins with her murder and then works backwards.

Within the film numerous themes are explored with depth. Having undertaken psychotherapy with homeless people over a five year period the rich life stories resonated with the themes explored within this film. It is a masterpiece of depiction, moving between sweetness, despair, depression, humour, love and violence within a flick of a camera frame. Each shot is delivered with flair for colour and composure, the acting is incredible.

The psychological insights within this film are beautifully rendered - existential pain, partner abuse, suicide, murder, lesbianism, the porn industry, family silences, patriarchies, friendships, loneliness, solitude, isolation. Far far above anything produced in the tin cans of England and America as it shifts gears so rapidly. The hues within the film also move with the emotions projected.

Meanwhile we see a very beautiful woman systematically degraded into the antithesis as she journeys along her life path. It is the depth of detail and the insights that emerge from the film, delivered by family and friends which provide the illumination.

This is one of the greatest films of all time, similar to Noriko's Dinner Table in its impact.