Synopsis
A teenage girl gains supernatural power after an accident and comes to understand her place in the universe.
1995 ‘水の中の八月’ Directed by Gakuryû Ishii
A teenage girl gains supernatural power after an accident and comes to understand her place in the universe.
Kôji Shiraishi Toshifumi Furusawa Shoetsu Sato Kenichirô Kohi Takashi Sasaki Tetsuji Takazaki Hidekazu Yoshizaki
I've thought about this film a lot in the past year since I first saw it. Softly steps on very big subjects. Dealing with the universe, aliens, mysterious illnesses and ecological concerns, it could so easily be schlocky and ineffectual. Ishii captured the essence of a Pure Moods tape and transforms it into an engaging tranquil science fiction narrative. It tells a story mostly in the form of sounds, textures and a dream-like atmosphere. Giving details only when completely necessary; truly an immersive film experience. He creates a magical environment using only visuals present in reality. No crazy effects, just the transcendental cosmic beautify of what exists in nature.
A film in tune with all the elements, and all the greater secrets of the universe that we may never understand.
It's strange how a film can feel so massive, so astronomically dense, yet so elusive and nebulous, like a rain-cloud atop a mountain. It is all-encompassing, completely immersive to the point where it feels like you're floating in it, each moment lingering as you pass through, or as it passes through you.
I have a deep newfound appreciation for stones and mushrooms. Such beautiful things they are.
And the score is something else...like the soft primordial crooning of ancient dolphins and aliens guiding me gently to a peaceful sleep. That's where I'm going right now.
on cosmic (in)significance and miracles of proximity. flows in reverse from the mundanities of these teenagers’ lives to the loftiest peaks of cinematic abstraction effortlessly. the rediscovery of a boundless soul through bodily harm; not the atoms but the spaces between (the sublimity of negation). the only thing humans can give to the earth is blood (but what wonders it bestows in return). marvelous
”i’m not scared about the boundaries anymore”
This basically hits 95% of my narrative concerns, is pretty aesthetically gorgeous, and has a fucking amazing score. Hypnotic and languid, ennui squeezes out of every frame, this is so unbelievably fantastic.
I've typically indulged in kami no michi art, universal harmony and natural spontaneity by way of the animist's idolatry, through anime and manga's depictions of unadulterated wilderness occupied by mysterious spirits. Cityscapes from the tail end of the Japanese economic miracle, enhanced by synth grooves: this was not the expected backdrop. With the apparent loss of the traditional romanticist vision seems to come some perversion of the philosophy; union with sacred nature now has the addition of sci-fi-ified astrology, elemental deities mix with planetary alignments, supernatural meteorites, and a little bit of techno-singularity paranoia.
Our high-diving heroine Izumi (Bing'd it, it means “fountain” or “spring” of course) is reborn from the usual water purification into full Zen-Shinto-Tao awareness of reality,…
Pre-Y2K anxieties and teen melodrama merge in a sparse, dream-like state; what should be cold and unpleasant is strangely warm and inviting. Pure aesthetic brilliance, hypnotic, nostalgic gold. This is nu-gaze cinema before it even existed. Feels like it just appeared into existence fully formed.
Plus it has dolphins.
Fire in the sky. Reversed weathering with you, and make it vaporwave. Ethereal music muffled behind a body of water, the night swallowed by moon, pillars of light in a rainforest, image layered on image evoking a form of nostalgia that is so distinct, so oddly personal. Amazing, such a transcendental experience. Very much surprised to see a man that is so dedicated to annihilate our eardrums would craft a masterpiece as soothing as this, Gakuryu Ishii is an artist that is truly capable of doing anything he wishes. Thank you Kudos and Evie for the recommendation.
From water to disquiet. The movement here is qute something. Elemental horror all the more chilling by how good Ishii is in position it in terms that are both specific everyday without sacrificing his general malaise.
I'll try and write more on this soon on an imminent rewatch. one of the most subtly massive films ever made, probably. it fits the universe in the palm of its hand.
syndromes and the 20th century
meditations from one of the greatest punk directors -- ambitious in the way we think of obayashi, cohesive like a text with the book, the bindings, the connective tissue as images. ishii captures the nineties as a haunting, a cityscape empty and then suddenly bustling. downpouring rain, and then the drought. kids skipping class to stare at the endless blue sky with big spherical power plants dotting the horizon. old computers, hardware designed for astrology charts. two meteors crashing into the earth, not far from one another. and a premonition of something going wrong, and the worry you carry on your face. and the way you can feel boundaries between the sky, the grass, the…
emitted strong cosmic vibrations that sent me back in time to playing everblue 2 on the ps2 as a child
big brain mode activated
🧠
🖖👁👄👁👍
content warning: the film emanates strong bisexual energy™. however, gays and straights can enjoy it also
really liked this. slow and dreamy goodness. would love to see it outside of a 360p youtube rip
so beautiful so mysterious. the relationship of humans to the earth and the (lack of) boundaries between them explored through a coming-of-age narrative that gradually turns into something more cosmic. the score is mesmerizing
I remember when this had 5 reviews on here. 300+ reviews now and STILL NO BLU RAY RELEASE
This whole movie is a mood, and I was vibing with it. The story is surreal and interesting, it is shot very well, the score is phenomenal, and the ending actually hit me pretty hard, in a good way. This is not your average sci-fi film, so I don't think it's for everyone, but I'd definitely recommend it. Luckily there's a very solid stream up on YouTube right now.
I've typically indulged in kami no michi art, universal harmony and natural spontaneity by way of the animist's idolatry, through anime and manga's depictions of unadulterated wilderness occupied by mysterious spirits. Cityscapes from the tail end of the Japanese economic miracle, enhanced by synth grooves: this was not the expected backdrop. With the apparent loss of the traditional romanticist vision seems to come some perversion of the philosophy; union with sacred nature now has the addition of sci-fi-ified astrology, elemental deities mix with planetary alignments, supernatural meteorites, and a little bit of techno-singularity paranoia.
Our high-diving heroine Izumi (Bing'd it, it means “fountain” or “spring” of course) is reborn from the usual water purification into full Zen-Shinto-Tao awareness of reality,…
as i'm so used to scifi/supernatural themes being utilised in a certain way, for this movie to purely make use of natural visuals was really refreshing.
it was slightly difficult to look past what the characters were lacking at first but it becomes irrelevant as the heart of the movie gets clearer
tfw a strange illness and climate change are happening at the same time and no one ever understands what you’re saying anymore and you start feeling nothing but a strong pull to another planet, or realm, or wherever you belong
🐬you’ll see me whenever you wish to meet me🐬
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