Linda Linda Linda

I missed this film when it played as part of the Asian Film Festival at Anthology Film Archives and BAM last spring. I chose not to see it when SHR and I were in Korea as well as skipping it on the airplane because there weren't English subtitles in either case.

When I was in Laos, I thought I saw part of it on TV with Jason. I mean, how many movies are there about Japanese high school girls in rock bands? Apparently, there are at least two. Because this was not the movie I saw part of in Laos. That movie was crazy. This one was mellow and understated.

As I watched Linda Linda Linda, I kept waiting for it go nuts. But it never did. No matter because this is a very very good movie.

The film is about four high school friends in a band. But one of them gets injured so they need to find another singer. Rather than go back to the well with a former bandmate/ current antagonist, the band settles on a Korean exchange student who has never sung before and barely can speak Japanese. The movie is about the band preparing for an upcoming school rock festival. Since they don't have much time to prepare they decide to do covers of an 80's band called The Blue Hearts including the song from which the movie takes its title. I'm dying to hear the Blue Hearts now.

The more I think about this film, the more I like it. It had so many amazing moments. And it made me realize I'll never get sick of good films about teenagers. The masses out there can have their Degrassis and OC's as long as I can occasionally be privvy to a movie this good.

Of course, there are boys that dig these fine young ladies. Many of the awkward moments between the sexes are so realistic and well played. In this aspect, this film reminded me a lot of one of my favorite films from 2003, Blue Gate Crossing, another movie well worth seeking out.

But I wonder, what was the movie I saw in Laos? That shit was good.

Director: Nobuhiro Yamashita
2005, U.S. Release - 2006
The ImaginAsian Theatre