Well, now that I’m much better I can continue going through Acerk’s and my own picks for Yu Aoi wishful thinking films. We are almost done, and I really wish more people would participate, not only commenting but also suggesting your own.
Anyway… here we go~
2. Picnic
Synopsis: Koko, a skimpy-black-crow-feather-dressed girl arrives at a mental institution where she meets Tsumuji, and his friend Satoru. The three believe the apocalypse is near so they decide to leave the asylum for one last picnic.
Director: Shunji Iwai
Cast: Chara, Tadanobu Asano, Koichi Hashizume
Replacing: Chara
Role: Koko
Poetic tragedy is what Shunji Iwai excels at. I don’t think I’m exaggerating if I say that most Yu Aoi fans are dying for a new Iwai/Aoi combo. I only wish he had decided to work with Yu (and a complete Japanese cast) for his segment on New York, I Love You.
Yu Aoi was around 10 or 11 when Picnic came out (1996), but according to my logic she could totally play Koko now. Unstable in a dark happy-go-lucky way, Koko is like a free spirit only held back by her own guilt. That balance between happiness and sadness is what I would like to see Yu play more often. She sort of did on All About Lily Chou Chou, and even though it’s a little bit more explicit here, it’s certainly not less poetic.
Plus, I totally want to see Yu play Goth, and I’m working my list towards that goal.
Of course, Chara wouldn’t have met and married Tadanobu Asano without this short. However, my desire to see Yu walking on a wall for a whole sequence with beautiful music and killer visuals is too much. All leading to that last scene in the beach against the sun.
If you don’t mind spoilers, check this fanvid with the music of Yndi Halda.
It will take your breath away.
I still haven’t gotten around to watching this….where would you rank it among Shunji’s other films?
Tadanobu Asano is one of my favorite actors, so an Aoi/Asano collaboration would be great!
Well, it definitely has that impeding doom vibe that I thought AALCC had, washed with the poetic visuals and sounds. It’s probably that good… though I’ve only seen it once. I should see it again…
The only reason I haven’t bought the dvd yet was because the film’s short (only 68 mins) and I didn’t think it was worth the $45 at yesasia. But if its as good as you say it is, then I have no other choice it seems!
I’m sure you can preview it somewhere…
it’s a pretty popular short. I’ve read a lot of people that liked it, and I doubt most of them bought the $45 version.
btw, I placed an order at HMV, and I added that issue of Eye Scream with Yu sticking her tongue on the cover. LOL. It says “available” so I said, what the heck! xD