Tokyo Idols was showed at the Sundance Film Festival before gaining a wider audience and the director and creator of the documentary has experienced a strong and skillful beginning to hopefully a successful career. I had the opportunity to speak with her after the showing and found her perspective insightful and her courage to expose an interesting aspect of Japanese culture refreshing.
Having lived in Japan for a few years, the subject matter explored in this documentary felt extremely genuine and honest. The film delves into 'Idols" in Japan while introducing fans of the concept and the heavy influence this culture has had on the Japanese people. Furthermore, the content speaks volumes to the impact this can have for individuals and society and also what it could mean for the future of the growing divide between people.
This documentary also had the nerve to not only unravel the negative and disturbing ideas the "Idol" culture entails, but also some positive things that come to those entangled with these popular super stars. When looking at the narrative structure as a whole, the arch is cohesive and fulfilling. At times it's difficult to determine who is who since some of the cuts aren't as smooth as they could be. However, this is a minor flaw that feels insignificant when questions are eventually resolved.
The work is bound to grow in controversy when showings hit Japan since controversy has already been cultivating here in the United States. Despite the lash the creator(s) will receive regarding this highly accepted and touchy subject, Tokyo Idols is a valuable and important piece that should be shared for those who love or hate this Idol culture.
Anyone who is interested in this culture and learning more, this documentary is a fascinating portrait of a culture that feels different than ours. Even for those not interested, this feels like an important documentary that everyone should get around to seeing it. Personally, this hit several emotional chords that feel relatable since I lived there but it's definitely not exclusive to people who have lived there. Anyone can find this fascinating and that's why this documentary is highly recommended.