Millennium Actress (2001) | Understanding Chiyoko Fujiwara | Character Analysis
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- Millennium Actress is Satoshi Kon’s second feature film, and compared to his previous film of Perfect Blue, Satoshi Kon goes down the route of a PG family movie.
But even though the film is targeted for a more family audience, it still carries heavy themes that you would expect from a great director. Love, loss, and legacy.
That is because the film follows Chiyoko Fujiwara, an actress who after leaving the public eye for more than 30 years gets interviewed by Genya Tachibana, a filmmaker and fanboy of the actress.
Genya decides he wants to make this documentary about his favourite actor to celebrate her achievements and to also coincide with the fact that the studio called Ginei Studios where Chiyoko did all her movies was being torn down.
From there Chiyoko describes her life and we view her life from the perspective of her movies as these two worlds, movies and her life conjoin and become one.
The basis of her stories centres around a moment where she meets this mystery person. This person is an artist and he is running away from the police and government because he is seen as an activist who opposes the Sino-Japanese War.
Chiyoko hides this person and forms a friendship with him. This man shows Chiyoko a very important item to her, a key.
A day after, Chiyoko finds that same key on the street, but cannot locate the mystery man because he has run away once again to avoid the police.
Because of that Chiyoko decides to find this man no matter the cost because she knows how much that key means to him and most importantly, Chiyoko is in love.
Her journey to find him becomes the story that she tells to Genya.
And I’ll tell you this, for a movie that is aimed for a more family audience, there are some heavy scenes that are emotional.
Because this story is about two loves, Chiyoko’s love for this mystery man and Genya’s love for Chiyoko and her movies.
Both taking the form of a journey that should not be taken for granted.
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My favorite thing is that the artist says the key is to “the most important thing there is”, and every time Chiyoko finds the key she rediscovers her youth and her dreams about the possibilities of the future. Old witch Chiyoko hates herself for not reaching the goal she wanted, but still loves the youth that gives her a chance to achieve it. Then the older actress repeats that chasing after the man kept Chiyoko young in a way. Especially when she gets the key back from Genya it’s like she comes back to life reminiscing about how passionate she was throughout her career. Love this movie
Such a shame a masterful storyteller such as Satoshi Kon passed away in 2010. Honest to God one of the most talented film makers ever imo
One thing I love about this film is that the old woman (edit: the witch*) is actually Chiyoko herself as she has the same mole as her. I totally missed it the first time I watched it and it´s such a subtle way to convey this as it is initially covered by her hair.
How did u not get that
@@naheenisapoet69 idk I was 17 the first time I watched and I wasn't paying attention that closely until the second time I watched it
no way this is a real comment
@@justmaverick985 LOL people!!!! I think you totally misunderstood me!!! I don't mean old lady Chiyoko!!! I mean the old witch/hag that curses her!! XD Lol, I just realized people thought I meant the actual... oh god... Yeah, the witch is Chiyoko, she has the same mole :P
Great video! Ngl it took me some time to really figure out this movie, but this video helped me understand it more. It's funny because the film does have some things I would normally dislike. Such as Chiyoko 'falling in love' with a man she knew for a short time and it came across as an obsession and superficial. Though, I realized this movie was more about Chiyoko's journey of finding this man rather than it being a love story. Her journey was very engaging and I can't help but get swept up by it.
I'm glad the video helped!
It's about obsession. Chiyoko's obsession for the idea of love. The painter's obsession about peace after the war. The documentary director's obsession for her beauty and legacies. Even the main antagonis, Eiko is obsessed for youth. It's about the pursuit, an unhealthy dreams but the one that keeps propelling us further. In the end, it became kind of a mirror even for the audiences, who's obsessed over spectacle
Your point at 3:50 wow!! Very profound. Thanks a lot, I'm doing research on the film bc I'm writing an essay on it. It's one of my favourites and I was looking for other people's interpretations on it.
Good luck on the essay! And I'm glad the video helped!
Can you believe that this movie is already 20 years old? I feel so old...
I've just finished the film. For most of the runtime I was thinking, "man, why does she love that dude so much, they've only seen each other for several hours, haven't even kissed or anything". But after seeing the ending (and reading some of the comments under this video) I think I got it. It wasn't about the man, it was about the chase for her dream...
Very well articulated video! Added another layer of depth to the movie that helps me appreciate it even more. And the same with all your other Kon videos
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
My fav Satoshi Kon film
I still need to watch tokyo godfather, but I will say so far paprika is still my favourite
@@filmisjustmovingpictures tokyo godfather is great. Hope you love it.
I always wondered. 🤔 When did the painter died? When was he captured and tortured? Did he died way before Chiyoko even get to release her 1st film?
I think when he was captured and tortured because the officer cried at the end saying he killed him. And I'm sure he was eluding to when they caught him.
I think when chiyoko was captured by the police. The painter turned himself in exchange for chiyoko's freedom.
Thanks for this. It got confusing at times.
I'm glad the video helped!
I was expecting some in depth analysis of Chiyoko but all you gave was a synopsis of the film with some clique existential quotes. Good video but you should not call it “character analysis”.
No, she ended her journey because she lost her youth, not because she found nothing.