Back in the 1990's I was one of the hundreds of thousands of people who became fans of anime, this was before DVD all video tapes. Manga Entertainment fed the fandom aggressively with non stop releases, it got mainstream coverage too then it disappeared. One thing I always remember was Manga introducing live action films and of Shinya Tsukamoto (Tetsuo Iron Man,Bullet Ballet, Vital and Snake of June)and now twenty years on we have his latest effort KOTOKO which looks simply sublime but frantic as expected from the cult director.
Kotoko stars J-Pop star Cocco making her feature film debut as a young mother who has double vision and on the verge of a nervous breakdown after caring for her baby. Kotoko certainly is Tsukamoto back on form which saw him win award at Venice Film Festival for his effort plus heaps of praise at Toronto Film Festival. To make things even more better just before Christmas Third Window Films announced they acquired the rights for the film for UK&Ireland giving the film a limited theatrical release in August then home release in October!Japanese film fans will see this earlier on 7th April.
Trailer: Kotoko by scottpurin
Kotoko (Cocco) holds a fragile grip on reality. A young mother, she fiercely protects her son from what she imagines are constant predatory threats. Even when her infant boy is in her arms, Kotoko envisions death around every corner. As fantasies overwhelm her, she is forced to give up her son and face her manic highs and terrifying bouts of paralysis alone. She cuts herself, hoping to feel her body and jump-start its instinct for survival. The sudden appearance of Tanaka (Tsukamoto), a novelist who has followed Kotoko's deterioration from a distance, offers momentary relief before her instability overwhelms her.
Using voice-over narration and whirling camera work, the film's style mirrors the trajectory of Kotoko's own increasingly fractured perception, which is plagued by confounding apparitions, scenes of horror and surreal nightmares. Tsukamoto's subjective approach is gripping and relentless. Small spaces and claustrophobic compositions leave no room to escape. As Tanaka, Tsukamoto gives a subtle and at times gutting performance. The film's star, Cocco, is an alluring Japanese singer in real life -- the perfect fit for the part of Kotoko, for whom singing is a release from mental anguish. With her haunting melodies and visceral understanding of madness, Cocco fully inhabits this tortured role.
sourcWildgrounds
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