A Crimson Star
Review of A Crimson Star at Raindance 26th London Film Festival.
Young lady auteur:- Japanese Aya Igashi – who directed this poignant film was at 21 the youngest ever director to be nominated at Cannes for the best international feature film. She is now 22.
Debut direct Aya Igashi reveals the bond between two lonely girls in a time of abuse and depression.
The story (based on a true one) is of a nurse and patient – both female, who meet again outside the confines of a hospital where Yo – the patient, discovers Yaoi – the nurse – is now selling her body and has kicked nursing in the butt. Introduced early on is Yaoi’s love of surfing the skies in a crescent-shaped red kite with a body harness and strings which Aya says symbolizes the fact that she seemed remote from all things every day and out of reach in her own world in the sky. Her ” boyfriend” sometimes flew with her in an attached harness under the same crescent-shaped red kite.
Poor Yo who is in a dysfunctional family with violent young men picks up Yaoi and attaches herself to her as though the two women are joined at the hip. She sets up home with Yaoi and amongst the many scenes where Yaoi is “chained” to a lit cigarette, the two young ladies battle it out and in between sex with strangers for money ensues. Ultimately the two young ladies end up with a same-sex affair which is emotionally disturbing for them both but in some way satisfies. Director Aya says she is mostly heterosexual but occasionally sees other women in a sexual way too.
Featuring in the story is a rotund telescope house with limited accessibility where the two ladies use the telescope or sit looking at the stars whilst Yaoi continues to chain-smoke.
Men get a fairly slim entry into the proceedings – either sleeping with the girls for money or beating the girls when they get angry with them. There are one or two scenes which make a baby crying on the bus pale into insignificance so the acting in this film must be applauded.
Aya has actually described her enchanting yet emotionally sometimes painful feature as “a sinking boat made of mud”. Apparently, the actresses also found it tough going shooting rivetingly poignant scenes ‘til the end. With Yo being only 14 in the story and she being the main star, discretion had to be used to unfold the story.
Aya would be pleased to venture into working outside Japan and make more enchanting and artistic films.
Back to the meaning of flight in the film – the physical metaphors of the kite flying high in a clear blue sky reflect the character’s internal feelings and ultimately Yaoi says she wants to give up flying…not sure why.
So refreshing to see a new angle on the human interest story. Be advised it contains angst as well as passion as well as ‘cold’ sex. See for yourself. ENJOY.
Penny Nair Price