Fantasia '19 Film Review - Chiwawa

Introduced to a gang of friends by group member Yoshida (Ryo Narita) as his new girlfriend; Chiwawa (Shiori Yoshida) soon touches each member of the crew that hangs out to all hours of the night at Sedgwick in Tokyo. Straight off she makes a bold move to endure herself to the crowd solving a problem for the friends who want to have a great summer but have money to do so. The film then makes its first time shift to a morning newscast sometime after the initial night of partying and hijinks reporting that Chiwawa's body had washed up in Tokyo Bay.

© 2019 CHIWAWA Chang PRODUCTION COMMIIEE(TOEI VIDEO, VAP, KADOKAWA, GEEK PIKTURES, TOEI ADVERTISING) 

Miki (Mugi Kadowaki) who's the glue that holds the group together and Yoshida's prior girlfriend takes on the task of unraveling the mysterious persona that was Chiwawa. She was a first rate party girl that did not have a passport, loved the water but could not swim, quickly became the centre of any circle she entered but sought praise constantly.

© 2019 CHIWAWA Chang PRODUCTION COMMIIEE(TOEI VIDEO, VAP, KADOKAWA, GEEK PIKTURES, TOEI ADVERTISING)

Writer-director Ken Ninomiya tells the story using a series of key interactions between Chiwawa and the gang. Beginning with Miki who finds herself alone with Chiwawa after the formers bold act each of the young people come to the fore to recount a key moment or their last encounter with the deceased model turned couch surfer.

The tensest of Miki's discussions is with her ex- Yoshida. He's annoyed that she has taken this on, doesn't want to talk to her as he is preparing to go for an interview then flips in an instant to be the author of the most disturbing act of the film. In any police investigation, he would be the prime suspect. The boyfriend that Chiwawa was complexly dedicated to at the outset, caused the strain in their relationship then she traded up to a famous photographer who captured her essence by breaking her down then building her up again.

Chiwawa is the story of death by misadventure. The titular character took the name because she was short "5.1 like Mr. Bean". Her neediness made her vulnerable. Her beauty and openness made her an Instagram star then modeling CoverGirl. But her insecurities lead ultimately to her downfall leaving her in debt while her friends contemplate what could have been as the older generation blamed the victim as a symbol of young people today: low morals, no scruples, and even less work ethic.

*** Out of 4.

Chiwawa | Ken Ninomiya | Japan | 2018 | 104 Minutes.

Tags: Tokyo, Tokyo Bay, Memorial, Edie Sedgwick, Andy Warhol, Theft, Bribery,  6 Million Yen, Video, Photography, Instagram, 3-day blowout.