Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Miho Kanno | ... | Sawako |
Hidetoshi Nishijima | ... | Matsumoto | |
Tatsuya Mihashi | ... | Hiro, the Boss | |
Chieko Matsubara | ... | Ryoko, the Woman in the Park | |
Kyoko Fukada | ... | Haruna Yamaguchi, the Pop Star | |
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Tsutomu Takeshige | ... | Nukui, the Fan |
Kayoko Kishimoto | ... | Haruna's Aunt | |
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Kanji Tsuda | ... | Young Hiro |
Yûko Daike | ... | Young Ryoko | |
Ren Osugi | ... | Haruna's Manager (as Ren Ôsugi) | |
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Shimadayu Toyotake | ... | Tayu, Puppet Theater Narrator |
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Seisuke Tsurusawa | ... | Puppet Theater Shamisen Player |
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Minotaro Yoshida | ... | Puppeteer of Umegawa the Courtesan |
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Yoshida | ... | Puppeteer of Chubei |
Shôgo Shimizu | ... | Matsumoto's Father |
Three stories of undying love: Bound by a long red cord, a young couple wanders in search of something they have forgotten. An aging yakuza returns to the park where he used to meet his long-lost girlfriend. A disfigured pop star confronts the phenomenal devotion of her biggest fan. Written by <intlpress@aol.com>
I was not aware that beauty like this existed in the world. In _Dolls_, director/writer Kitano draws us into a classical myth set in contemporary Japanese society. You may recognize elements borrowed from traditional legends (Oedipus, Arabian Nights, etc); however the central theme is, as far as I know, an original. It is the story of the "leashed beggars" who are introduced in the beginning, and whose story unfolds in a challenging, non-linear way as the film progresses.
I call it "challenging", because the viewer is compelled to pay attention to every detail in order to realize the plot and sublime theme. In that respect, it is much like _Citizen Kane_, told in fragments which the viewer must assemble and interpret. The underlying philosophy is yet more elusive and will have you debating for days afterward.
To me, what made this film superior to _Citizen Kane_ (through no fault of Orson Welles!) is the extreme use of colors and vivid scenery. The stunning backgrounds become a silent character in the movie, filling in for the sparse dialogue and periodic silence. As we evolve through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, the saying comes to mind "a picture is worth a thousand words". If this review makes sense to you, then you will not be disappointed!