perfect blue is a psychological thriller that was released in 1997. It is directed by the legendary Satoshi Kon, who also gave us Paprika.
Perfect Blue is based on the novel. Perfect blue: complete metamorphosis By Yoshikazu Takeuchi.
I mentioned this in a smaller summary in an article about Madhouse Studios’ 90s animation works.
So forgive me if I repeat myself. I just re-watched this movie and it took me a few days to let the epic maelstrom of this story settle into my brain.
Perfect Blue follows the career of a budding actress. Her name is Mima Kirigoe and she is a former member of a J-pop band called CHAM!
Upon leaving the band, Mima embarks on a new career as an actress. Her agent, Rumi Hidaka, helps her deal with the changes in her life as she takes on a small role in a psychological thriller/police detective drama called double bond.
This new role requires Mima to do things she has never done before. Some things that could be considered racy or even tarnish her good girl and pop star image.
Stop now if you don’t want to be lightly pampered.
The layers of reality are revealed
As the stress of filming increases, Mima begins to struggle with a lingering regret. Should she have left her singing career? Is acting what she really wants? It’s worth it?
Soon, her small role grows and the show’s producers want to film her in a graphic rape scene (although it’s not entirely hentai, there is a nudity and graphic violence warning when watching this movie). Mima enters the scene with a good attitude, but the reality of the scene and its theme breaks her down.
As she returns home, she begins to see herself, in her old pop star outfit, in a reflection. The reflection claims to be herself and is cruel in her words and treatment.
To make matters worse, it seems that Mima has a stalker who is posting information about her on a website called “Mima’s Room.”
You’d think that would be enough for a young star, but soon there are murders of people Mima knows or has worked with, and she’s unsure of her involvement as her grip on reality is becoming increasingly fractured.
Mima suffers a kind of dissociation. Or do we, the spectators, suffer from it? The director uses a form of layering to tell the story that blurs the lines.
At one moment we are here, at another we are there. Time jumps. Was that a dream? Did that just happen? A violent scene will give way to a benign one. It makes you feel a little crazy.
At the same time, it is masterfully made.
I am an author. I have written several books. You may or may not know it. So while watching Perfect Blue, I was trying to imagine what it would take to write this story in screenplay or novel format. It was difficult to calculate. The only way I can see it or describe it is layers. What is the “magic word” for the boys and girls in today’s review.
Stop now if you REALLY don’t want to be seriously spoiled!
Discovering the shocking truth
As the movie comes to a chilling end, Mima somehow manages to finish filming her role on the show. Her character is revealed to have multiple personality disorder… but at first, you’re led to believe that’s what Mima has.
Is it just his character who is having a mental breakdown, perhaps? Maybe not? Again, the director uses sequences and layers to keep us guessing.
Anyway, there is an attack. A rabid fan almost rapes Mima. She manages to escape only to be saved by her agent, Rumi.
When Mima wakes up in her room, she suddenly realizes that it is not her room at all. It’s a playback and the other version of herself she’s been seeing is there. The pop star’s reflection attacks her and we, the viewers, get a glimpse beyond the curtain.
Holy shit! It’s Rumi, dressed as Mima!
Wow, this movie ends strong. There’s a fight, a chase, another fight! We see how everything unfolds in a surreal way. We see the pop star version of Mima’s face twist and transform into Rumi.
It’s all so creepy!
I don’t want to spoil the last few minutes. It’s too good for words and I hope everyone enjoyed it or will enjoy it.
Perfect blue: final thoughts
Perfect Blue has it all. Great narration. Interesting characters. Action. Mystery. Even some small fanservice (though built in, so it’s not free. Or maybe it is. You make the decision).
I really didn’t want to give anything 5 stars. I’m one of those people who feels there should always be room to grow. Nothing is perfect…then I watched Perfect Blue and thought…damn…I need to give this 90s Japanese anime movie 5 stars!
Some interesting facts for those who are umm… interested…
It’s hard not to compare the animated Perfect Blue to the live-action Black Swan. Especially when you do your research and find out that Darron Aronofsky is a fan of Satoshi Kon. He denies he was inspired by it, but you can make up your own mind here.
I think maybe it was. 😊