Oh, Takashi Miike. How I love your films! I joined Steve and Ivy this morning for their introduction into the world of the Japanese auteur. The film chosen for this occasion was Audition (unrated version). They both had some idea of the plot, and both were aware of the controversial, discomforting nature of the film. They seemed to react to it quite positively.
In case you haven’t seen the film, I’ll tease you with the general plot outline. The main character (Aoyama) is a widower who loses his wife to a disease that is never really explained. He’s left to raise the couple’s son alone. This is the opening sequence, but the main story takes place seven years later. The son is now in his late-teens, and begins to encourage his father to consider remarrying. When Ayoama broaches the subject with a close friend (who happens to be a film producer), the friend offers to set up a fake movie audition where young women will be interviewed for a part in a movie that will never be made. Of course, in reality the girls will be auditioning for the “part” of Aoyama’s wife. He becomes intrigued by Asami, who is a very demure, quiet girl. She is beautiful, dresses only in white, and appears fragile. She has a soft-spoken confidence. Awkwardly, Aoyama asks Asami to dinner, and she agrees to go out with him.
From here, the style of the film is altered dramatically. Unconventional editing choices, strange jumps in the narrative, and harrowing music combine to clue the viewer into the fact that this is no ordinary romance. Although the pace of the film is slow to begin, a single phone ring sets the remainder of the story in motion. The viewer is jolted, confused and left trying to fill in gaps of information that are intentionally excluded. Even when Miike finally fills those gaps, he continues to manipulate us into wondering if everything is a nightmare or a terrible hallucination. The reality, of course, is much, much worse.
I highly recommend Audition, but it’s not for the weak of heart, or those with easily upset stomachs. According to Miike, the vomit in that scene…is real.
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Last night was a good time. Went over to Lauren and Nick’s last night for a friendly evening of drinking. We tried to think of places we could go (Lauren suggested “Guitar Hero” night at Hyperion Bar, which Steve nixed, I thought about $3 beer night at Good Brews but it ends at 10pm), but ended up staying-in and joking around. We eventually found ourselves in a high-stakes game of Euchre. Actually, first Steve and I had to learn how to play the game. Try explaining a new card game to drunkards sometime, I imagine it’s not easy. In fact — I still don’t really understand it. Since card games are never fun without stakes, we needed to think of a good bet. We decided to place all our phones in the “pot”, and the winning team would take the losers’ phones and send one text message to any contact in that person’s contact list. Lauren and Steve beat Nick and I 10-8. I don’t know who Lauren texted, but Steve used my phone to send Ian a message stating that I was checking myself into rehab and wouldn’t be able to go to Vegas next month. High-larious.
