告白 Kokuhaku (Confessions 2010) Movie
An amazing filmmaker with the scariest storyline with the most amazing visuals (as well as special effects) you can imagine. Scenes where Tetsuya Nakashima experiments with colors – the dominant blue effect when telling the floor inside the classroom-, then very quickly shows small scenes in full color, transitioning to darker colors – when A tells a story to the student- and the most subtle visual effects – when the bubble bursts in the ear-. From start to finish – including the visual cut as the credits roll – this film is one of the most aesthetically stunning I’ve seen in recent memory.
But what surprises me the most is that all of the above, as well as the musical score and sounds, are an integral part of the story, adding to the dramatic nature of the horror story. Consider the following: stunning visuals, amazing sound effects, mesmerizing music, Takatu Matsu’s (Yoku Moriguchi) stunning facial and sometimes monotone voice performance, and excellent performances by the teenage actors in the lead roles, and you have almost perfection. Really a must watch movie.
But what makes this film even more remarkable is how Nakashima transforms a basic and unpleasant plot from Ken Minato’s best-selling book into a thrilling, emotionally draining and disturbing film. To me, the film felt like one giant roller coaster that kept surprising me with one dramatic twist after another while whisking me from one emotion to another. I felt like someone was hitting me or pushing me back and forth and sideways, so the experience was not only emotional but also physical. This movie is so impressive. As a result, this movie does not seem interesting.
The film is billed as a psychological thriller, but it’s a solid drama with a lot of weird ‘horror’ and a small amount of gore, which isn’t a big deal if you’ve seen other Japanese movies. Or, better yet, most American movies that celebrate gore. I don’t usually like horror movies, but I would happily watch this one again, so the horror movie is really special. I can’t believe I’m saying all this when the story isn’t disgusting, but it’s delicious. It’s funny; I believe this is my first encounter with a movie with a lot of negative characterization (mostly in the plot) and I’m pretty excited about it.
Anyway, I really recommend this amazing film, especially for people who like elegant art house movies, although the images are amazing, they completely blow your mind and eyes.
So, what is the floor plan? On the surface, the film is about Yoko Moriguchi, a middle school teacher whose life is turned upside down by the death of her 4-year-old daughter, not by accident, but by the murders of two of her students. Moriguchi informs the class that she is resigning, so she begins to explain the story of her current life and who killed her daughter: Students A and B are recognized by their students, and a very twisted, dark and gruesome drama unfolds. The most amazing fashion you have ever seen.
It’s an emotional film that many readers of this site should have seen, and as we all know, it was Japan’s contribution to the 2011 Oscars, shortlisted but not nominated. sympathy
