Life isn’t easy for a group of high school kids growing up absurd in Japan’s pervasive pop/cyber culture. As they negotiate teen Badlands - school bullies, parents from another planet, lurid snapshots of sex and death - these everyday rebels without a cause seek sanctuary, even salvation, through pop star saviour Lily Chou-Chou, embracing her sad, dreamy songs and sharing their fears and secrets in Lilyholic chat rooms.

Immersed in the speed of everyday troubles, their lives inevitably climax in a collision between real and virtual identities…

This early 00s film was ahead of it’s time in capturing the darker side of the online world and fan communities, whilst still capturing a dreamy atmosphere through its unconventional visual style and a soundtrack of lo-fi Japanese pop that has inspired musicians such as Mitski and Ichiko Aoba.

Watchlist Wednesday takes place across three weeks this Autumn, highlighting some of the best independent, cult, and classic films from around the world that are sat waiting in your watchlist – but you’ve never had the chance to see on the big screen.

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Director Shunji Iwai
Year 2001
Duration 2h 26m
Language Japanese with English Subtitles
Cast Hayato Ichihara, Shûgo Oshinari, Ayumi Ito