Following up on his highly acclaimed animated psychological thriller Perfect Blue, Satoshi Kon spins this mystery about a documentary filmmaker and a legendary actress. In honor of Gin Ei studios 70th anniversary, a small production house run by Genya Tachibana is selected to make a commemorative documentary. Genya decides to focus his film on actress Chiyoko Fujiwara, a massive star who at the height of her popularity retreated from public life. Accompanied an eager young cameraman, Genya doggedly tracks her down to discover her living a hermit-like life of charmed isolation. He also learns that in spite of her advanced age, she has lost little of her famed charm or elegance. As he interviews her, Genya learns of Chiyoko’s troubled past and eventually the reasons for her sudden retirement.
Released in the states in 2003, Millennium Actress remains the late Kon’s most critically praised film, but it’s possible you haven’t gotten a chance to see it. You can fix that now if that’s the case, as Paramount Pictures has just released the entire movie on YouTube for free. It’s an easy and convenient way to catch this beautiful film (so long as you don’t mind watching it on a computer screen or mobile device).