ozu-teapot:

Millennium Actress - Satoshi Kon - 2001

Before watching Millennium Actress I’d read that it was loosely based on the life of Setsuko Hara but that isn’t very accurate at all, although the main character is a much loved actress who, like Hara now lives a reclusive life away from the spotlight.

What is interesting though are the various nods to many classic Japanese films throughout the story. Not exactly direct pastiches - Satoishi Kon said he “…drew on a vague general impression of the history of Japanese filmmaking…“ - I noticed Throne of Blood, Tokyo Story, Twenty-Four Eyes and I’m sure there are many more.