Where do I even begin? All About Lily Chou-Chou with its 160 minutes running time has probably been the longest film I have ever watched. Was I exhausted after? No. (But my legs and back were aching as I watching this on my bed on a bright Thursday afternoon...) With such a long running time, it's difficult to wrap my head around what I feel about this film. It's also my first Shunji Iwai film (and it wouldn't be the last). Iwai, cinematographer, Noboru Shinoda and music director, Takeshi Kobayashi are able to beautifully portray something so brutal through the colors, the shots and the music. That's cruel. You see something so terrible happening in front of you but you're so mesmerized because it's done so beautifully. They romanticized teenage angst so well. The plot is simple and it doesn't try too hard. The narration is easy to follow despite it not being linear...it makes you more intrigued to watch. But perhaps a problem lies with the plot's simplicity yet carries an almost riddle-like script writing with its overwrought and difficult-to-decipher black screen, white text repetitions. It's poetic but together it's words that don't make sense... generally to just normal watchers. (What is Lily's Ether????) It's trying to be philosophical in a coming-of-age film which in one hand, captures this change but at the same time, leaves you baffled and scratching your hand. There's just a lot of vagueness, a lot of interpretation (You decide the identity of those posting in the board too) of you to do that it creates a miscommunication between director and audience in the expense of telling his characters' stories. We have an amazing pool of young characters that drive the story forward with Shugo Oshinari whom I think has the most interesting character. It seems like he underwent some kind of ephiphany (though not really in a good way) during a trip to Okinawa and just...changes. Just snaps. Kikeru - sudden fits of rage. It's interesting but at the same time the "why" isn't explored. Or maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe it's not the why but the what. Hayato Ichihara is your typical wimpy loner that allows himself to be bullied. It's pathetic and not fun to watch. You don't feel bad but Ichihara plays his character like he doesn't want you to pity him...instead he wants you to slap him awake. I think that is engagement with the audience. For a film with such a simple plot and long running time, we need that. And again, cinematography is just great. The colors are bright and crisp. The setting is in Ashikaga in the Tochigi Prefecture and the film captures the setting (not in the hussle and bustle of busy Tokyo) so well and it just perfectly wraps itself in the context of the film. Most of the scenes are shot probably using a lightweight camera especially in the Okinawa scenes with shaky shots and hand-held shots. This is to establish a sense of connection with the audience...as if you're watching a home video. It's effective (and profanely beautiful) but it could be too much in a 160 minutes run. The music is superb, sang by fictional-idol Lily Chou-Chou (Salyu in real life) and it reflects the mystic and visual allure of the film. I think that this film has some underlying social commentary to it. A film that's full of mystic and vague messages. Is it simply to show the extreme lengths of youth violence that is fueled by teenage angst which would cause bewilderment especially in a society such as Japan's? A society that boasts of politeness (highlighted in the film too), of social order, or discipline, of stability and of staying true to its norms and roots? Is there a place for rebellious teenagers? What about worshiping an idol to the point that you believe her songs exists even in the normal realms of reality? Idol-worshiping and virtual reality and to an extent, escapism are big things in Japanese society. Does the internet offer refuge from the horros of the reality especially in that kind of society? Like one commentator said, "Lily Chou-chou is just human." Or is this film simply to show human life as what it is? Iwai's message is simple but it's up to you to decide what's your take on it. Finally, if you're expecting a satisfying conclusion after watching so long. Don't. That too, is up to you. This film isn't for everyone. So if you can sit for 160 minutes and watch a romanticized story of teenage angst then this is for you. Or if you want to think about life...this might be for you too. In the end, it's the way the story was told through amazing visuals that got me. It's a powerful, haunting and honest coming-of-age film.