All About Lily Chou-Chou [Discussion]

This movie has been orbiting my life for about 5 years, and I finally got around to watching it.

All I can say is that it embodies the early 2000s Japanese movie feel. If it tried to be horror, not that it wasn't already horrific, then it definitely could pass as a Ringu or Kairo.

The cinematography, the connected distance of the internet, and how it does not reflect at all the harsh onslaught of life.

The characters are all complex, struggling in their own ways, while also still being distinctly "Japanese protagonist," wherein everything just happens around him.

There is no hero's journey in this one, as the path towards redemption is years in the making. It isn't even explicitly stated if he is redeemed, only scarred for life.

And tragedy. The surrounding cast operates the same way. They are rich in feeling, despite being so far apart from the main character's heart. There is a distance that the director does not feel needs to be crossed. He could have trespassed into the other characters' lives. Instead, he chose to only show glimpses. It works, as the mc compartmentalizes his true self and only places it in the online community board he pseudo heads.

Spoiler:

Regarding the very real danger of the movie's main conflict, which is bullying. I went into this movie thinking it would be the furthest from that topic. I thought it would just be about youthful yearning, and an innocent, maybe somewhat exploratory, coming-of-age story. Instead, the bullying that transpires in this is horrific, although assuredly this isn't even a fourth of how bullying ruins lives.

What are your thoughts on this? I would love to talk about this with others.