MOVIE – PERFECT BLUE
DIRECTED BY – SATOSHI KON,1997
ANALYSIS BY – VANSHIKA PAWAR
The term "perfect" has roots in ancient Latin and
originally meant "completed" or "carried out." Since our
life and the world around us are always changing, no
human being can be flawless. but also because
sometimes we move so quickly that we leave something
behind in our life to meet our own and other people's
expectations. Every day, we must piece together the
puzzle of who we are, and we try to cover the gaps.
others of us just keep breaking apart, while some of us
discover those lost pieces in really unexpected ways or
via self-realization.
Excuse me who are you? This line has played major
part into main leads life
• Mima is a young idol who later decides to leave
her group and start an acting career . Well even
though her agency supports her decision but
also puts a lot of pressure also pushes her into
uncomfortable roles such as nude photoshoot ,
rape scene etc.
• she always tells herself that everything is okay
and now she is not an idol she is actress .
• But she soon realized that everything is not okay
when a series of murders starts to stain her life
in red
• Somewhere she started to feel like her idol
image is doing that. At this point she even
started to have visual hallucination
• In her visual hallucination she started to see her
idol image. Where that image says that she is
making fault to change her career. This thing
actually triggered after the agency told her that
she has to do the rape scene .
• As the pop star turned actor Mima Kirigoe fights
with her identity and has unsettling visions, the
movie dives into her inner torment. The plot
blurs the lines between Mima's reality and her
hallucinations, creating a gripping and
challenging tale for us.
• The transformation of Mima from a pop idol to an
actress serves as a metaphor for the loss of youth and
the difficulties of preserving one's identity in a society
where views are shaped. The movie also explores
voyeurism because Mama's experiences are frequently
witnessed by others, blurring the boundaries between
the public and private spheres. The subject of broken
identity is highlighted by the use of mirrors,
reflections.
• Throughout the film, the line between reality and
illusion becomes increasingly blurred. Mima's
experiences are often presented in a way that makes it
difficult for both her and the audience to distinguish
between what is real and what is imagined. This
manipulation of reality adds to the psychological
tension and keeps viewers questioning the nature of the
events unfolding on screen.
• The dualistic motif permeates "Perfect Blue." Mima's shift
from her pop idol reputation to her acting job leaves her
feeling conflicted about who she is. The tension between
her past and present personalities is symbolized by her
mirror and her "pop idol self" appearing to her, which
serves to further emphasize this.
• The movie investigates how intrusive technology and
the media are by showing how Mima's private life is
constantly being scrutinized. This relates to the idea of
voyeurism because others can view her experiences
through a variety of media, including websites,
magazines, and even her own fan club. This subject
emphasizes the pressure to maintain a public image
and the loss of privacy.
• Movie also delves into the power of perception and
how it can shape an individual's reality. Mima's
perceptions are distorted by external influences,
leading to a breakdown of her mental state. This
reflects the idea that our sense of self can be
manipulated by external forces, raising questions about
the fragility of one's identity.
• The intense and frequently uncomfortable bond
between celebrities and their fans is briefly discussed
in the movie. Me-Mania, Mima's stalker, exemplifies
the perverse side of fandom and draws attention to
the line between appreciation and obsession. The
movie explores the tremendous effects that this
devotion may have on both the celebrity and the
follower.
• Me-Mania develops an obsession with Mima,
especially with how she changed from a pop idol to an
actor. His fascination drives him to gather artefacts
about her and keep a close eye on everything she
does.
• As the story progresses, Me-Mania's behavior escalates
from stalking to more aggressive actions, including
violent confrontations with those he perceives as
threats to Mima's image.
• Rumi, Mima Kirigoe's manager in "Perfect Blue," has a
growing obsession with her. Although Rumi's
particular disease isn't mentioned in the movie, her
behavior and actions point to a severe case of
delusional disorder or perhaps borderline personality
disorder. Rumi becomes so fixated on Mime that she
adopts Mima's old pop idol identity and starts to think
that she is the actual Mima as a result of her passion.
She acts violently and endangers Mima's life as a result
of this hallucination. Her misaligned view of reality,
obsession with Mima, and inability to distinguish
between her own identity and Mima's identity are signs
of a serious psychological disorder..
• Fixed, false ideas (delusions) that are against social or
cultural norms and that cannot be dispelled in spite of
opposing evidence are a symptom of delusional illness.
Rumi's belief that she is Mima and her aggressive and
obsessional tendencies fit the definition of delusional
disorder.
• In summary this movie touches a lot of fundamental
themes of our contemporary days and people who are
dealing with having multiple lives , toxic fandoms ,
internet, social media etc.
