This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Beth Morris) was limited to 1,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.
For kids around the world, music is often the only salvation when the pain and anxiety of teenage life becomes too much to bear. Yuichi (Hayato Ichihara) is in the 8th grade and he worships Lily Chou-Chou, a Bjork-like chanteuse whose epic music is lush and transcendent. Yuichi only lives for Lily Chou-Chou's big Tokyo concert, where the lies and violence can be washed away by the presence of his goddess and her powerful music. But fate has yet another obstacle in store for Lily's devoted fan.
directed by: Shunji Iwai
starring: Hayato Ichihara, Shûgo Oshinari, Ayumi Ito, Takao Ohsawa, Miwako Ichikawa, Izumi Inamori, Yû Aoii
2001 / 146 min / 1.78:1 / Japanese LPCM 2.0 & 5.1
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.8 / 5 from 75 reviews.
Customers highly appreciate the Blu-ray release of this classic Japanese film, praising its beautiful and delicate storytelling, powerful soundtrack, and effective movie experience. The film is considered one of the best in its genre, with English subtitles provided for accessibility.
Review topics: ["quality","shipping","looks","service","packaging","depth","buy","film","movie","release","soundtrack","edition","experience","delinquents","acting","essays","music","reality","slipcover","addition","flick","shot","idea","classic","documentary","art","friends","filmmakers","teenager","step"].
"The packaging was fantastic, everything came safe and sound, and the shipping was nice and speedy. The movie itself looks amazing for a bluray. I don't think this is a vinger syndrome release so I don't think it's there fault, but I wish this edition had more special features, it only has a making of documentary and an essay. Overall I would recommend anyone buy this if they have any interest in the movie at all."
"I was pointed towards this by my son-in-law who adores it and suggested I watch it. Such a strange and unique film with a very strange atmosphere. Some might find it slow, but it’s undeniably beautifully shot, and shocks without actually showing you very much. An early example of film depicting characters with an online life, but does so in a way that will not age the film - it’s very impressively done, and it’s shocking how badly wrong so many other films attempting this manage to get it. Not an easy film to get hold in any format in the UK, so was delighted to be able to pick it up from Vinegar Syndrome (subscriber free shipping is a godsend)."
"All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001), directed by Shunji Iwai, is a haunting, impressionistic portrait of adolescence that captures both the fragility and brutality of youth with unusual sensitivity. Structured around fragmented storytelling and interwoven with text from online forums, the film follows a group of teenagers whose lives are shaped by bullying, alienation, and their shared devotion to an ethereal pop singer who becomes a kind of emotional refuge. Iwai’s direction is visually lyrical—lingering shots of skies and fields contrast sharply with the harshness of what unfolds, creating a dissonance that feels both beautiful and devastating. The film resists easy narrative clarity, instead immersing the viewer in mood and sensation, making its emotional impact feel cumulative rather than immediate. It’s a challenging watch at times, but its blend of melancholy, music, and quiet despair leaves a lasting, almost hypnotic impression."
"While this movie is not my personal favorite, I do recognize the impact and the mark this left on many people. Of course, if you've seen Kill Bill you would recognize the music from this film. Overall a great release."
"Obsessed with all the shots of people standing alone in open fields and listening to their CD players. Super bleak and melancholy, but also very warm and dreamy. The feature length making of documentary was a really interesting watch and reaffirmed that these are all kids who obviously got really sad that they had to stop seeing their friends when filming ended."
"There’s really nothing more to say about this classic of modern Japanese cinema. If you want to understand the youth culture of the 1990s in Japan, you should watch this film. A must-buy!"
"absolutely stunning dvd for a beautiful movie."
"Came in great condition, and great release overall!"
"Fast shipping, good product"
"Had never heard of this but what a beautiful surprise!"
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