This is a very different but interesting anime movie, I am very glad I watched this.
There are many different animation styles used in this movie, from sketchy to realistic to cartoony and much else. They give this story a surrealistic feel. It took me a while to get used to it, but once I got into the rhythm I was fine with it. I do prefer something like Paprika where the style serves the story. But there is a sequence in Heaven where style does server the story.
The story starts with Nishi dying in a bar, killed by a yakuza. In Heaven though he manages to escape and come back to life. He then runs from the Yakuza with two girls and ends up trapped in a very weird place. Once they’re trapped it basically becomes another movie.
From here the movie gets even more absurd and abstract. There are sequences that feel more like an art performance than a movie. In particular there is a scene where one of the girls is wearing balloons on her genitals and breasts. The balloon at the bottom then fills with water and little baby dolls. Totally wacky.
Then there’s the scene where they try to escape from their trap. My heart kept pumping during that scene, maybe it was a little bit too long, but the tension never let go. I can’t find words to describe that feeling.
I’m not sure what the ending montage (which is basically the same as the beginning montage, I had to rewind) means, but they are random scenes from the character’s lives from the past, present and future.
I’m still trying to get around the characterization. Apart from Nishi getting a second chance, what are the themes? The other characters all have their own themes, but it’s not exactly clear what they are.
This is a very very weird film, I usually don’t enjoy these “artistic” movies. However for some reason I was really fascinated by it, so in the end I did like it. I think this needs to be experienced.
Rating: 3.5 Stars