A História de Shimotsuma

The story is about a girl who goes to Tokyo to buy her Lolita clothes, and the moped gangster girl she very unwillingly befriends. This movie is funny cute and sexy. Laughed a ton, and then got misty eyed too. A great Thelma and Louise kinda female bonding movie. Haven't seem T&L though, so don't take my word for it. The camerawork and cinematography, wait, the entire storytelling is funky and pop, but it's such a good story. Glad to have caught the last showing. The climax is surreal. But so is everything else. it's a movie driven on fashion, but the plot is knit tightly :) And still I wouldn't care, these two girls are both incredible. Very hot, very hot. A classic for Japanese pop culture conoisseurs. A decent story for all others.

Maybe the one and only movie with a theme about Embroidery, that still can be considered "cool". Kyoko Fukada as cute Lolita-look Aficionado and Anna Tsuchia in a tough Biker-Gang Wardrobe make up a most strange, yet sympathetic pair of friends. Makes you laugh, makes you feel warm, yeah, even nostalgic. "Kamikaze Girls" is the archetypal essence of Manga-Culture come alive, pure J-Pop Fanservice in psychedelic, overbidding videoclip visuals (including one hysterical Anime story sequence), and one of those rare movies, where you don't ever want to see the credits. Also features a great entrance by my favorite Pin-up Idol Eiko Koike.

"Kamikaze Girls" is a Japanese film directed by Tetsuya Nakashima that follows the unlikely friendship between Momoko, a teenage girl with a passion for frilly Victorian-style clothing, and Ichigo, a rough-around-the-edges girl who rides a motorcycle and belongs to a biker gang. The film is a quirky and entertaining exploration of Japanese youth culture, and features strong performances from its two lead actresses.

One of the standout aspects of "Kamikaze Girls" is its unique and visually striking aesthetic. The film is a feast for the eyes, with elaborate costume design and a color palette that pops off the screen. Momoko's elaborate Victorian-style outfits are particularly memorable, and the contrast between her and Ichigo's more rough-and-tumble style adds to the film's visual appeal.

The film is also notable for its exploration of Japanese youth culture, particularly the subcultures of "Lolita" fashion and biker gangs. While the film is light-hearted and comedic in tone, it also touches on deeper themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the challenges of fitting in. The relationship between Momoko and Ichigo is at the heart of the film, and the two actresses have great chemistry, bringing a sense of warmth and authenticity to their characters.

Overall, "Kamikaze Girls" is a fun and entertaining film that is sure to appeal to fans of Japanese cinema and youth culture. Its unique aesthetic and strong performances make it a must-see for any film lover.

A completely enchanting and engrossing comedy-drama about two 17 year old girls, vastly different from each other (one a self-absorbed dreamer with a love for Rococco period fashion and behavior; the other a rebellious biker chick), who become friends and change each other's lives. The film makes the most of this simple plot line, and it's the compelling personalities of the characters, beautifully overplayed by Kyoko Fukada and Anna Tsuchiya, respectively. The film is told through a color-saturated visualization and stylish direction by Tetsuya Nakashima, who adopts a manic style not unlike that of Jean-Pierre Jeunet in AMELIA or Tom Twyker in RUN LOLA RUN, with jump-cut flashbacks, bizarre cut-aways and edits; the effervescent vitality of Nakashima's direction coupled with the performances of the lead and supporting cast really make this film a fascinating and repeatedly watchable experience. Also of note is a terrific score, which varies from J-Pop to American hard rock and punk, to classical (one fight scene is set to Strauss' Blue Danube) and really sets the film's aural tone and pacing; Yoko Kanno (MEMORIES, ESCALFLOWNE, GHOST IN THE SHELL: STANDALONE COMPLEX, and Nakashima's previous SUMMER TALE) is responsible for the underscore and several of the songs.

Wonderful, colourful and amusing tale of two young girls whose personalities clash in the country of culture clashes. Anna Tsuchiya who played the prostitute in Sakuran, here plays a cool and very crazy bike girl from a gang of 'yanki's' and the cutie doll faced, Kyoko Fukada plays the frilly dress wearer, reminiscent of the young girls on the bridge at Harajaku, Tokyo.

This non-stop extravaganza takes in teenage angst, the clash between the traditional and the western styles, the passion for costume, the need or not of friends and so much more. And all in such a bright and infectious manner. A joy for all.