Millennium Actress

Satoshi Kon is a truly exceptional talent. His films focus on uniquely human themes, yet often blur the line between fantasy and reality. Kon’s movies have a psychological complexity to them and are intelligent visions of human nature. With Millennium Actress, Satoshi Kon is at his very best. His career only spans four films thus far, but his talents are unquestionable and he stands apart as a true giant in Japanese animation. Kon’s writing is tender and detailed, as he constructs characters that audiences can relate to and places them in situations of extraordinary depth.

Millennium Actress tells a complex story of love, devotion, and the purposes one finds in life. The tale begins with documentary filmmaker Genya Tachibana and his cameraman heading to visit the great Japanese actress Chiyoko Fujiwara. Chiyoko has become a recluse since leaving the film industry 30 years ago. Securing the interview was difficult, but Genya has something special for Chiyoko that she will be most interested in: a key left to her by a lost love. As Genya and his cameraman begin the interview, Chiyoko reminiscences about her life and about her pursuit of love and devotion over the course of several years.

The narrative style takes us through history as we follow Chiyoko through her early years before she became an actress to her final days as she comes to terms with the life she experienced. Kon’s piece weaves the story through portions of Chiyoko’s films and her re-telling of her experiences, often combining reality with the storylines from the movies. Genya and his cameraman tag along through it all, capturing an overview of history through the imaginative storytelling of Chiyoko.

Kon’s film depicts a fair history of Japan, taking us from the Warring States during Japan’s medieval era to the Meiji period during the late 19^th century to the post-war period and the Occupation. The “real” portions of the film are interspersed with visions from the films of Chiyoko, making the journey constantly compelling. The imagination of Kon through his visions of these various time periods makes Millennium Actress a truly epic movie.

Unto itself, Kon’s screenplay would have been stunning enough. With the storytelling techniques he employs, however, Millennium Actress becomes absolutely incredible. The actress’s films serve as backdrops for her journey through life to find her lost love, making for some gripping philosophical moments as the actor becomes the characters through various stages of time. Kon chooses to make the Genya and his cameraman part of the memories, too, which adds an extra personal element to the characterizations and helps tie more emotion into the already strong story.

The animation of the film is slick and moving. It is beautifully colourful and some of the scenes are simply immense. Some critics have claimed that the animation is simplistic and less beautiful than a Miyazaki or similar filmmakers’ work. While it’s incredibly difficult to emulate or even come close to producing something along the lines of Miyazaki, Kon’s piece, animated by the legendary Studio Madhouse, is as pure an anime as I’ve seen in quite a long time. The colours flush in and out of the scenes, the segues are tremendous, and the backdrops are absolutely stunning pieces to look at on their own. I found myself pausing the film quite a few times to gather the scope of it all.

Millennium Actress is a wonderful introduction to anime for those viewers that may not be comfortable with some of the more bizarre elements of the genre. It is a tender love story with depth, instantly relatable to anyone that has ever chased a dream. We accompany Chiyoko on her journey and celebrate her idea that the journey itself is incredible. Our heart breaks for her, time and again, and we long for her happiness as we trace the lines of her life. Chiyoko is not merely a two-dimensional cartoon character. She exhibits more life, more emotion, and more poise than several current “real” Hollywood actresses and we feel the depth of her moving journey on a deeply personal level. Kon’s film succeeds because it realizes the desire of the audience for connection and purpose, even in film.

Along with the deeply personal level on which Millennium Actress functions, Kon’s movie passionately gives us a shorthand vision of history through the eyes of Chiyoko. The backdrops, the scenes, and the characters reveal a rich tapestry of history and elegantly place importance on the smaller, subtle moments of Chiyoko’s life. Her career as an actress highlights her life, accenting her personal quest with the gloss of cinema.

As a quality introduction to anime and a wonderful film, Millennium Actress is a highly recommended work of art from one of my favourite anime filmmakers, Satoshi Kon. Along with Tokyo Godfathers, Kon has proven his ability to create uniquely human tales in a genre that often feels inhabited by science fiction stories and unbelievable ideas. Millennium Actress is the perfect starting point for those interested in opening up to the engaging genre of anime.

Trailer: