Momoko has taken the idea of individuality to its illogical conclusion, with her adoption of a Lolita clothing style based on 18th century Rococo fashion. While trying to make a little money out of her father's failed yakuza bootleg clothes she meets Ichigo, a member of an all female biker gang, with attitude to match. From tentative beginnings the two form a friendship which will have consequences for them both...

Kamikaze Girls (Shimotsuma Monogatari, 2004 - 1 hr, 41 min, 52 sec) is another surreal delight from director Tetsuya Nakashima, this time based on the best selling novel-turned-manga by Novala Takemoto. The film won fourteen awards and was nominated for a further two. Given the director you know you’re in for a multicoloured surreal ride, The film is a perfect confectionary, being sweet without being sickly, a delight to the senses.

Although it could be said that if you scratch away at the visual splendour of the film, what you have is a pretty ordinary odd couple story and there would be some truth in this. The script, and the acting, redeem what could otherwise have just been a flashy show. It would be fair to say that Momoko’s choice of a Lolita fashion makes her stand out from the crowd, it also makes her very much of a loner, a character aspect she shares with Ichigo. Though there is little overt drama in the film, audiences will delight in getting to know these two very quirky girls.

Kyoko Fukada is wonderful in her part, carrying off her dresses with such ease and confidence that any connotations of sexualisation are swept away with her portrayal of an innocent abroad. I was less convinced by Anna Tsuchiya’s Ichigo. Sure she spits and behaves in a most unladylike fashion, I just couldn’t understand why the actress felt the need to drop her voice a few octaves, making her sound like she was impersonating a male, but then maybe that’s a cultural thing. Even so I warmed to her portrayal and ultimately the film's end left me with a warm glow.

The soundtrack is a collection of old and new, which for the most part works well with the film. The only jarring moment was the use of the 'Blue Danube' during a fight scene, I half expected Kubrick’s space station to sail across the background.

For extras you get interviews with the two leading actresses (7 mins), the theatrical trailer (1 min, 56 sec) and trailers fro twelve other films.

It’s another film which would benefit from more than one viewing to get the most out of the very rich mixture.

9

Charles Packer