Millennium Actress

Synopsis

At the dawn of a new millennium, Ginei Studio—once a proud pillar of the film world—now stands decrepit and awaits demolition. Former employee and filmmaker Genya Tachibana decides to honor this moment by creating a documentary on Chiyoko Fujiwara, the legendary but reclusive star of Shouwa-era cinema. After securing a permit to interview the retired actress, the devoted Genya recruits his skeptical cameraman Kyouji Ida to travel to her secluded mountain home. There, hidden away, lies a lifetime containing a thousand years of history, waiting to be revealed. Chiyoko's memories lead them on a magical journey through the annals of Japanese cinema, where reality and fiction blend together; her personal experiences merge with her on-screen roles, and the people she knew blur into the characters she portrayed, weaving together past and present. Though she left the spotlight at the peak of her fame some thirty years ago, the final chapter of her life's dramatic story remains unwritten.

Background

The film won the awards of Best Animation Film and Fantasia Ground-Breaker at the 2001 Fantasia Film Festival. It was also awarded the Feature Film Award at the 8th Animation Kobe. In 2002, it won the prestigious Ofuji Noburo Award at the Mainichi Film Awards, and was honored with the Orient Express Award at the 2001 Festival de Cine de Sitges in Spain. The film was nominated for four Annie Awards in 2004, including Outstanding Direction and Writing.