Shin'ya Tsukamoto	...	(Director)
Cocco, Shin'ya Tsukamoto	...	(Writer)
Shin'ya Tsukamoto	...	Seitaro Tanaka
Cocco	...	Kotoko
Satoshi Hayashi	...	Cinematographer

Comments: I'm not sure I have the time right now to unload everything this film made me ponder. But I will say I found it just shy of spectacular. Shakey cam not a problem.

I imagine general audience response to the film will be less favorable than mine. Mostly because (I am aware that) my interest in, and admiration for Cocco kept me afloat more than it likely will others. Fine by me. It says something that two of Japan's top film makers decided to make a film about the woman. (Kore'eda being the other) Brilliant, creative, passionate, (desperately troubled) people are attractive to others (of the same ilk).

A description of the film as "A bold view on insanity as seen from within..." is a little broad (especially and depending on how autobiographical you think the film is), and/but, that part didn't strike me as disturbing, divisive or unsettling. I found the potential child-danger moments a little spooky, and did find myself questioning how far one should go in depicting that kind of thing in a film. When Cocco was holding the infant in one arm and cooking up some stir-fry with the other, I was very uncomfortable.

The film is also a touching little love story. When Tsukamoto says he is going to quit writing and make his profession "to continue loving you" ... very cute. Clearly, Tsukamoto has a mad crush on Cocco and this is at least a love poem to her.

One more thing ... I was surprised ... actually not surprised by Cocco's acting chops. Granted, it's not a big stretch to essentially play yourself, but I was impressed by the intelligence she showed as an actress. The scene near the end when her son comes to visit and Tsukamoto trains the lens on just her eyes. She kicked ass.


Summary: The story of a single mother who suffers from double vision; caring for her baby is a nerve-wrecking task that eventually leads her to a nervous breakdown. She is suspected of being a child abuser when things get out of control and her baby is taken away.