Adolescence of Utena at the Cinemark Bel Mar
Details
Join our newest guest host and anime expert, Collin, for a rare screening of Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena (1999).
DIRECTED BY: Kunihiko Ikuhara (Sailor Moon R, Mawaru Penguindrum, Sarazanmai)
FEATURING THE VOICES OF: Tomoko Kawakami, Yuriko Fuchizaki, Takehito Koyasu
LANGUAGE: Japanese with English subtitles
PLOT: Utena Tenjou arrives at Ohtori Academy, only to be immediately swept up in a series of duels for the hand of her classmate Anthy Himemiya and the power she supposedly holds. Utena must discover the secrets of these duels, before the power that rules Ohtori claims her and her friends, new and old.
WHY IT'S WORTH CHECKING OUT: With only 10% of the runtime of the TV series it is ostensibly adapting, Adolescence of Utena chooses instead to discard the idea of retelling the same narrative in favor of distilling down and richly exploring its themes of gender roles, sexuality, coming of age, and the weight of institutions on minorities. Enhanced by the surreal, impressionistic backgrounds of art director Shichirou Kobayashi (Angel's Egg, Berserk, Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer) at the absolute top of his game. The film has never been in US theaters before, likely will not be again, and I would not hesitate to call it one of the most beautiful animated films of all time. Well worth seeing on the big screen.
DO I NEED TO HAVE SEEN THE TV SERIES?: I won't lie, it helps. There are moments in the film that assume the audience has seen the show. With that said, so much of the film is ambiguous, allegorical, and left to personal interpretation that I firmly believe it stands on its own.
Tickets available at the box office and online
Free Parking in the structure to the East of the theater as well as paid street and lot parking.
Join Collin at Great Divide Brewery after for drinks and discussion!