Shiki-Jitsu (2000)

Shiki-Jitsu: Directed by Hideaki Anno. With Shunji Iwai, Ayako Fujitani, Jun Murakami, Shinobu Ôtake. A disillusioned filmmaker has an encounter with a young girl who has a ritual of repeating “Tomorrow is my birthday” everyday. He tries to communicate with her through his video camera.

“Iu0026#39;d been waiting to see this film for nearly three years and finally I had the chance to see it. Luckily, I was not disappointed. This is truly one of the most profound films Iu0026#39;ve ever had the pleasure to watch. The plot, which I refuse to spoil, delves deeply into the human psyche and itu0026#39;s fragility. Itu0026#39;s impossible to not be changed or indeliably marked after watching this true work of cinematic art. Annou0026#39;s deeply psychological u0026#39;Evangelionu0026#39; runs parallel to this work. Anno is intrigued and infatuated with the fragility of the human mind and the power of belonging and love. u0026#39;Ritualu0026#39; shows the frailness of the human mind and how easy it is to be detached from reality. This is truly a must see film, for lovers of true cinema and lovers of life. Donu0026#39;t let the first 20 minutes deter you from committing to watching the movie, take it all in and the motif will begin to seep into your soul.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs far as the cinematography goes, one canu0026#39;t help but notice Annou0026#39;s attention to detail in his construction of the motif of entrapment. Pay close attention to the use of frames and barriers; frames within frames, tunnels, mazes, labyrinths, spiral staircases all ripe for deep analysis.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enThis film truly renders what it is to be human. Beautiful and Essential.”