MUBI

So you’re in the mood for love and devastation but you don’t want to leave the internet? Neither does anyone else! Especially when you’re a nerdy teen filled with oh-so painful emotions(!)

To be a teenager is no longer fun in the land of the rising sun. Sweet Hasumi is plagued with equal detriment by sharing a one room apartment with his entire family, falling completely in love with an international pop star and enduring daily torture from his once best friend – turned school yard bully, Hoshino. Fun times for gentle Hasumi who can only escape in the all-encompassing nothingness that is the internet. There, he is web master of a fan site dedicated to pop love, Lily Chou-Chou. Bjork-like in her wailings, Lily is the only one who is really there for nerdish Hasumi, after his homework is stolen, his class crush is sexually assaulted, and a gang of bullies defiles any other sacred items he may have. If you’re looking for action and adventure and some shock you have come to the right film. If you are looking for melancholy contemplation you’ve struck gold as well.

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I really really love this movie! I totally agree that the story is a bit hard to understand, especially when its mixed with various chatroom conversations and the frequent jump-cuts. Though, firstly the music is outstanding.I mean one-of-the-best-soundtracks-ever-produced Outstanding… And, the songs very effectively reflect the loneliness and the hearth-breaking alienation of the protagonist… His passivity is most definitely very disturbing. Though, for me, it is one of the reasons behind this movie’s emotional impact. The bullying that the character has to endure is intense and frequent, both at home and at school, yet he is unable to do anything about. Just like most teenagers he is powerless. He is not emotionally mature enough to voice his problems succinctly. And, it doesn’t look like anybody is willing to listen even if he did. Except one anonymous chatter that the protagonist connects with in the chatrooms that are dedicated to his idol Lily Chou-Chou. And, even this communication has a very tragic twist… Is this movie painful and disturbing to watch? Yes, Most definitely. Because, it honestly and very realistically depicts the ups-and-downs of growing-up and the tragedy called High School…